The Rivers State Government has restated its preparedness to continue to partner with groups which are poised to improve the economy of the state through positive activities.
Rivers State Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, Dr Peter Medee made the declaration at the inauguration of the State Chapter of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria in Port Harcourt, last weekend.
Medee enjoined the members of the association to ensure that Rivers people did not suffer unnecessary industrial strikes by dealers of petroleum products in the state.
He noted that the governor of the state has been proactive in his administration’s developmental strides by putting infrastructures on ground.
According to him, “the Rivers State Governor has done very well, as you can see there are several infrastructural projects that would ensure that we operate in this state”
Furthermore, he said, the state government had worked assiduously to eliminate multiple taxation and expressed the hope that the association would not carry out actions that would sabotage the efforts of the government in creating a conducive business environment.
The commissioner said, “His Excellency has also ensured that multiple taxation does not obtain in Rivers state… we’re expecting that the leadership would join force with us to ensure the availability of petroleum product in Rivers State. I want you to have it at the back of your mind that anything that would lead to the suffering of Rivers people should not be your priority, rather your priority should be how best you can deliver your product unhindered in Rivers State, while you continue to make your profit.”
Also speaking, the National President of the Petroleum Product Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, Dr Billy Harry, stated that the association would work with other stakeholders in the petroleum sector in the state to ensure abundance of the products and compliance with best practices.
“As far as petroleum scarcity is concerned we will ensure that we work with all the regulatory agencies to make sure that the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), the official source of petroleum are working very closely with sister associations, like IPMAN and other associations that are dealing in petroleum products. We, as petroleum station owners, will make sure that we get unadulterated petroleum products and we will dispense to the user without any hoarding. Any hoarder will be penalised, any adulteration of the product would also be decisively dealt with”, Harry promised.