Nigerian Govt not doing enough to check artificial fuel scarcity, insecurity – CLO

The Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, in Akwa Ibom State, on Thursday said the Federal Government has not done enough to control the unscrupulous attitude of petrol marketers that has led to the lingering high cost of fuel in many parts of the country.

It also called on the management of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, and the Akwa Ibom State Government to expedite efforts and ensure the release of the remaining Corps members held captive by kidnappers in Zamfara State.

A statement signed by the state chairman, Barr Godknows Njoku and Vice Chairman, Comrade Eridiong Obong, at the end of the organisation’s monthly meeting described the activities of the marketers as economic sabotage.

The statement described as regrettable, the lack of seriousness shown by the Federal Government towards controlling the activities of middlemen and other operators in the downstream sector, adding that this has led to marketers taking laws into their hands by creating artificial situations inorder to hike the price of the commodity.

According to CLO, the situation, if left unchecked could inflict further hardship on Nigerians, and could generate mass action from the already suffering and deprived citizenry.

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It said the continued detention of the prospective NYSC members from Akwa Ibom by their kidnappers in Zamfara, more than a year after their abduction, was a shame to the country and called on security agencies and the Akwa Ibom State Government to show more commitment towards the quick release of the remaining captives.

The CLO said the new guidelines regarding registration of Point of Sales, POS, operators released by the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, was insensitive and not in order, calling on the Federal Government to put a stop to the action and allow for already existing regulations with banks.

It added that any further charge on the operators would lead to further increase of the already exorbitant withdrawal charges, and would only result in further hardship for Nigerians.

The organisation described the new guidelines released by CAC as insensitive and a further attempt to oppress poor Nigerians who have continued to get poorer due to the poor handling and management of the economy by successive federal administrations, with current government policies already choking the downtrodden.