Anambra Govt. To Make Fuel Free For Enforcers of COVID-19 Directive —Nwosu
Anambra State Government has embarked on a plan to make the Premium Motor Spirit (also known as fuel) free of charge for health workers and other relevant/security agencies enforcing the 'Stay At Home, Stay Safe' government directive in the state.
This was disclosed by Comrade Peter Nwosu, the Senior Special Assistant on Petroleum and Union Matters, to Governor Willie Obiano, in an exclusive interview with our reporter.
He said that was part of State Government's palliative measures to assuage the effect of the stay at home order on the people of the state, particularly those involved in the enforcement and implementation of the government's directive against the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
According to him, the state government will collaborate with petroleum dealers in the state on this, and also designate three petrol stations in the three senatorial zones in the state to actualize the plan.
He further disclosed that they were making efforts to ensure that there would be no scarcity of petroleum products witnessed in the state throughout the period.
He said, "We are making plans to have an understanding with the Petroleum Dealers Association of Nigeria (PEDAN) Anambra State, in areas to support the government in this period of coronavirus.
"We have made, and we are still making efforts to ensure that petroleum products are always available in the state, and that no fuel scarcity is witnessed in Anambra especially throughout this period.
"We are also working to map out where the health workers, police and other relevant agencies concerned with enforcing the sit at home order will be getting fuel absolutely free of charge in all the three senatorial zones in the state."
Reiterating that they were already on the plans, Comrade Nwosu further noted that those gestures were parts of state government's plans to cushion the effect of the period on Ndi Anambra.
On the enforcement of the newly approved pump price of petrol in the state, he highlighted some of the efforts made so far and steps undertaken by his office to that effect.
These, according to him include, ensuring that every petroleum product imported into Anambra from other parts of the country arrives the state successfully, without any law enforcement agency holding or delaying it unnecessarily on the road, being part of the things that affect price of the product.
"Few days ago, I was at Amansea/Enugu boundary, Amorka, and Onitsha Head Bridge respectively to release some petrol trucks, when I got information that some security agents held and were demanding money to allow them pass," he said.
Comrade Nwosu also advised Ndi Anambra to bring complaints about incomplete meter, or any station selling fuel above the official pump price, to his office in Government House, Awka, for immediate action.
He commended Governor Willie Obiano for all his efforts towards ensuring that Ndi Anambra remain safe from coronavirus, as well as the various palliative measures he has dosed out to the people so far; even as he assured the people of the state that the government has their interest at heart, even in this critical period of coronavirus.