fuel scarcity due to the closure of most filling stations in protest
over what they described as high levies imposed on them by the state
government.
As a consequence, motorists and other users of petrol resorted to
buying the product from black marketers for as much as N500 per litre.
A petroleum products' marketer, Joseph Nwakpadolu, told our
correspondent that most of his colleagues closed their retail outlets
to protest the heavy levies imposed on them by the state government.
He said the marketers had to convene an emergency meeting to discuss
the levies and taxes imposed on them by the government.
Nwakpadolu said each filling station owner was being asked to pay a
huge sum annually, which he said would kill their businesses if
implemented.
He said the general meeting had become imperative after all efforts to
get the government to rescind the plan failed.
"We met to discuss the high levies the government has billed our
businesses; they are giving us a combined bill of over N500,000 per
year exclusive of tax. Our position is that the amount is high and
cannot be sustained if we must remain in business," he added.
The Chairman, Petroleum Dealers' Association of Nigeria, Anambra State
chapter, Chief Osita Ofodile, confirmed that the marketers were being
asked to pay over N500,000 each, which their colleagues in other
states were paying.
No government official could be reached for reaction because of the
state's Executive Council meeting that was still going on at 5.30pm
when this report was sent.
—PUNCH
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