Ikpeazu orders striking tanker drivers to resume distribution of products

Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, yesterday, ordered petroleum products tanker drivers under the state chapter of the Independent Petroleum Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to resume distribution of products.

The drivers had withdrawn their services, which caused scarcity of products and hike in the price of petrol to over N200 per litre in the state.

Dealers also took advantage of the situation to hoard the products in anticipation of Federal Government’s removal of fuel subsidy early next year.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chris Ezem, announced the state directive in a statement in Umuahia yesterday, warning that government would sanction members of the association who fail to comply with the order.

Ikpeazu also directed the Commissioner for Works to resume work on the Osisioma PPMC Depot road “irrespective of the directive of the Federal Ministry of Works to stop initial attempt to work on it because it is a federal road.”

Ezem stressed that the state government would not fold its hand and watch the people and residents suffer from human factor.

In another statement, Ikpeazu announced the sacking of the General Manager of the Umuahia Zone of the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), Eze Okwulehie, and for him (Ezem) to take over the affairs of the agency.

At press time, no reason was given for the development, for which the people in the state expressed surprise and confirmed that Okwulehie performed above his predecessors during his short stay in office.

A resident of the state who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “I have resided in Umuahia for over 50 years and I can confirm that Okwulehie’s removal cannot be for non-performance, because if it was on that basis, Okwulehie’s counterparts in other zones ought to have been sacked.

He, therefore, urged Ikpeazu to reinstated him and provide him necessary logistics to continue to rid Umuahia and its environs of refuse heaps.