Ali M. Ali and Patrick Ugeh
4 November 2009
Abuja/Owerri — A member of the National Stakeholders Working Group, NSWG, of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, yesterday said fuel had since been deregulated in the South-east and some parts of the northern part of the country.
In those areas, he said, petroleum products had since been sold at market prices, which are usually higher than the government-regulated prices.
This came as the All Nigeria People Party (ANPP),
in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Emma Eneukwu, yesterday in Abuja, declared support for the proposed 'full blown' strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC).
It said since the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) controlled government led by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua was impervious to entreaties not to deregulate , then the party was in full support of a nationwide strike. Investigations showed that by yesterday P.M.S was selling at between N80 and N90 in Owerri and some other parts of the East. In many parts of the north, the product sells above the official pump price."It seems the East and certain parts of the north have long deregulated their own P.M.S. (premium motor spirit or petrol)," the NEITI chieftain said at a one day road show in Owerri led by NEITI chairman, Prof. Asisi Asobie.
"So when they talk about deregulation, I laugh. We have long deregulated it in the East and the north - in certain parts of the North. It's only certain parts of the west and Abuja that are still regulated. That is the way it is. It is not a fair deal that you're paying for the commodity higher than other people.
"Ohuabunwa, who is the South-East representative in NEITI, also lambasted the absence of the governors of the five South-eastern states for staying away from the accountability agency's road show in Owerri, which he said would have been an opportunity for them to answer questions on the application of oil revenues, among other issues.
He said of the absence of the five governors from the region who failed to show up, and sent no representatives: "I must say I am not happy; I am disappointed because I am aware that attempts were made to make sure the South-eastern governors are here and I am the representative on the NEITI board.
So, I feel disappointed because when you go to other regions, you see their governors - government people interested in what's going on," he said.
We've brought this show here and we can't find our people."He lamented that even the deputy governor of Imo State, Dr. Ada Okwuonu, whose absence help up the event for over two hours, eventually failed to turn up, adding: "And we speak about marginalisation. If this programme was not brought to the South-East, as I insisted they must bring it to the South-East, we'll start saying we've gone round the whole country; we are not here."
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Right on! This withdrawal symptom is the best approach to wean Nigeria from its over dependence on imports of what should have been produced locally. Let the face off between the Feds & the gasoline hoarders continue - in six months or less, we will begin to see a return to nomalcy, depending on who blinks first. It will take a tough love approach like this to break the back of economic saboteurs. Albeit the public may suffer in the short run, they will reap the benefit, eventually, if they can just hang in there.
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Active Discussions: Nigerian Petroleum Bill/ Deregulation