By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Movement for Election of Nigerian President of Igbo Extraction, on Monday, lauded federal and state governments on efforts to restore normal supply and price of petroleum products in the country.

It would be recalled that the current petroleum products crisis was caused by batches of fuel laden vessels, which was refined with an inappropriate mixture of additives, making its way to fuel farms and fuel stations across the country.

The Convener of the movement, Mr. Vincent Ezekwueme, told newsmen in Enugu that fuel pump price increase had brought outrageous increases in transport fares, goods and services.

According to Ezekwueme, the activities of unscrupulous and unpatriotic elements have tremendously increased the pains, problems, predicaments and sufferings of the citizenry.

He said: “Petroleum product marketers in the South-East should be their brothers’ keepers and check the current outrageous sale of fuel between N200 and N220 per litre.

“Let us think, act and work for common good, social welfare and interest of the citizenry and masses.

“There is a need for all to rally round the federal and state governments, as well as security agencies as they are doing much to ensure that normal supply and price are restored for the benefit of all, especially the poor masses.”

The convener called on Governors in the South-East States to summon an emergency meeting with oil marketers and transporters to counsel them on the inevitable need not to increase the sufferings and hardships of the citizenry through artificial, skyrocketed price of petroleum products.

“We are also commending those patriotic and selfless oil marketers still selling at normal price, God will reward them abundantly.

“We passionately appeal to the leadership of the organisations to appeal to their members to revert to normal price or they will be penalised.

“Worthy of note is that the leaderships should look in the direction of ensuring that adulterated and contaminated fuel, currently in circulation, did not infiltrate the zone; as well as ensuring that pump meters are accurate,” he added.

Ezekwueme also urged the leadership of transport unions/associations to discourage their members from arbitrary increase of transport fares in order to alleviate the sufferings of the citizenry.

“Pertinently, let us sincerely make inevitable sacrifices and selfless services for the common good as precondition for actualising better and egalitarian society,” he said.