Okey Amadi Assures Residents of Availability of Petroleum Products

By Chioma Andy

Rivers State Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, Hon. Okey Amadi has assured residents of Rivers State price stability and continuous availability of petroleum products to aid the micro and macro-economic development of the State.

While briefing press men in his office, the commissioner asked that people disregard the insinuation of petroleum products scarcity, describing it as the handiwork of mischievous middlemen.

He advised marketers of petroleum products to eschew acts inimical to the ethics of the sector or face the consequences.

Commenting on the issue of the State owned refinery to be cited at Ikpokiri in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area, he averred it saying, “The government of Rivers State through the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, has fulfilled all requirements by law towards the release of the operational license. The investors are ready and waiting for the release of the license. The moment the Federal Government releases the license, work would commence the next day and of course you know we can’t do anything until we are authorised to do so.”

Hon. Amadi stressed the importance of the refinery as an economic catalyst that would not only leverage other downstream opportunities for the people of the State, but also play a major role in providing the energy needs of the proposed energy-city at Ikpokiri.

The Commissioner also called on other stakeholders, especially the leadership of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria to lend their support to enable his ministry achieve set goals.