CLO: Nigerian Government Falling Short in Addressing Artificial Fuel Scarcity and Insecurity

Expressing concern, the Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, in Akwa Ibom State pointed out that the Federal Government’s efforts have not been sufficient in curbing the unethical behavior of petrol marketers responsible for the sustained high fuel prices across many regions of the country.

Furthermore, the organization urged for prompt action from the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, and the Akwa Ibom State Government to secure the release of the remaining Corps members who are still held captive by kidnappers in Zamfara State.

In a joint statement by Barr Godknows Njoku, the state chairman, and Comrade Eridiong Obong, the Vice Chairman, following the organization’s monthly meeting, they denounced the actions of the marketers as economic sabotage.

Highlighting the lack of federal government’s serious intervention in regulating middlemen and downstream sector operators, the statement condemned the creation of artificial scarcity by marketers to inflate fuel prices as a result of insufficient oversight.

CLO emphasized that if unchecked, the situation could worsen the hardship faced by Nigerians, possibly leading to widespread protests among the already burdened population.

The organization criticized the prolonged captivity of Akwa Ibom’s NYSC members in Zamfara, labeling the delay in their release after a year as a national disgrace. They called upon security agencies and the Akwa Ibom State Government to intensify efforts in securing the captives’ freedom.

Regarding the new guidelines on Point of Sales (POS) operators’ registration issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), CLO criticized the insensitivity of the move, urging the Federal Government to retract the decision and adhere to existing regulations in collaboration with banks.

Warning that additional charges on operators would escalate withdrawal fees, leading to heightened financial burden on Nigerians, the organization denounced the CAC’s guidelines as oppressive to the already impoverished citizens impacted by poor economic management.