Pregnant Women, Others Scramble For Kerosene, As Gov. Obi Supervises Sales

Posted by admin Anambra, Headlines, State News Friday, August 5th, 2011

Residents of the commercial city of Onitsha, on Friday, defied the heavy downpour as they queued under the rain at the Onitsha South Local Government secretariat to buy Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) under the NNPC/Capital Oil Kerosene Direct Scheme.

The product, which was sold to the people at the rate of N50.00 per litre, was supervised by the State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, who had a hectic time ensuring that there was orderliness while the exercise lasted.

Among those who thronged the council secretariat in search of the scarce commodity, were octogenarians, pregnant women and nursing mothers, who were given some measures of preferential treatment on the orders of the governor, who disclosed that the exercise will go round the 21 local government areas.

According to the governor, the project, which was targeted at bringing the product to the reach of the low income earners at affordable rate, was a joint effort of the Nigeria National Petroleum Coporation (NNPC), Anambra State Government and Capital Oil.

“We are here to launch the project of selling kerosene at the rate of N50.00 per litre to Anambra people, this is a project of the NNPC, Capital Oil and Anambra State Government and this is just the beginning, we will eventually have to ensure that this project continue in all local governments in the state so that kerosene will be distributed at a price that will be convenient for poor families,” he said.

Speaking to newsmen, one of the Octogenarians Madam Mary Igwe, said that because of the untold hardship she had been facing as a result of the scarcity of kerosene, she decided to come to the stadium, despite the heavy down pour to get the product.

“I heard that Governor Obi will be selling kerosene to us at this place while I was praying this morning. I decided to come despite the rain, I was standing in the queue all along until I became weak, I saw the governor passing, I had to stop him and complain and he gave me kerosene.”

-Tribunewp_posts