Against the backdrop of the perennial scarcity of kerosene (DPK) across the country and the attendant rise in the price of the product to N150 per liter, the Akwa Ibom State government has taken a bold step in addressing the problem through subsidizing the product to a pump prize of N50.
The State Commissioner for Information Mr. Aniekan Umanah who disclosed this to newsmen in his office, said this development has cushioned the excruciating effects of high cost of kerosene on the people of the state who depend primarily on the product for domestic purposes.
Mr Umanah said under the scheme, the product is being distributed directly to the end users, under the supervision of the office of the Governor, through the already established distribution network of the Bureau of Cooperative Development across the State in conjunction with the Local Government Councils, using five dispensing trucks
The Commissioner explained that each Local Government Area is allocated a minimum of 6500 liters of kerosene for distribution to about 650 beneficiaries in each Local Government at the ratio of 50:55 beneficiaries drawn from each of the 3329 wards across the State.
Akwa Ibom State participation in the scheme will among other things, help to stabilize the price of the product as well as other complimentary goods and services
The Information Commissioner maintained that the timing for this intervention is appropriate as it serves the dual purpose of being a Christmas largesse and Governor Akpabio’s responsiveness to the plights of his citizens.
Meanwhile more encomiums have continued to trail the gesture of the state government as women and youths troupe out each day with containers to purchase the product at the subsidized rate of N50. Those who spoke commended Governor Akpabio, adding that the Governor has continued to maintain a human face in governance.