Adulteration of Petroleum Products
Early this year, the Director-General of Standards Organization of Nigeria, SON, Dr Joseph Odumodu alerted the nation over the loss of N200 billion annually to adulteration of petroleum products. Odumodu who played the issue to the further disclosed that the unpatriotic act impacts heavily on the socio-economic life of the nation causing loss of lives and destruction of property including vehicles and equipments.
The SON boss warned that the use of compromised products causes breakdown of engines and equipments which induces additional drain on personal, corporate and national resources. He however emphasized that the major concern of the federal government was how to put in place quality assurance system that would bring to an end the unpatriotic undertaking.
These not withstanding, he had assured the nation that all petroleum aspects such as lubricating and blending plants, liquefied petroleum gas sales outlets, petrol service stations and surface kerosene sales will henceforth be constantly monitored to ensure that products conform to sales and acceptable industry standards. This entails continuous random testing of all products stored, distributed and sold by its agents.
The policy must have taken root with the installation of kerosene sales points at various locations in parts of Owerri metropolis and its environs. The development will certainly render kerosene adulteration a herculian task unless the supplies do not come direct from NNPC depots. The facility should be extended to local government areas in a bid to discourage kerosene consumers from patronizing hawkers of the product on wheelbarrows in markets and residential buildings.
However, despite the litany of assurances, a majority of the citizens still feel that the Standards Organization of Nigeria is a lame duck. The impression that the Organization has been invaded and compromised by the Nigerian factor, the bane of hard work and reward is hard to ward off.
All the same, is the Standards Organization of Nigeria unaware of the rampant instances of illegal storage and sale of petroleum products notably petrol in residential buildings, the indisputable base of adulterated products? What is it doing about unlicensed illegal fuel depots which straddle the country? Are they adulteration proof?
One is also aware that the markets, streets and living homes where petroleum products are stored and sold have not been certified by SON to enhance its routine operations, arrests and possibly prosecution of culprits.
In Owerri markets, some kerosene retailed in white plastic bottles is either yellow or light-brown in colour. The oddity scares kerosene consumers in an era of kerosene explosion. Up till now, SON is yet to assuage the feelings of consumers on the issue by making the vital clarification as to whether it is safe to cook with the coloured kerosene?
SON must do something about selling petrol in jerry-cans to avoid retailing the product in residential buildings as well as adulteration of the product. Even the sale of these products at road sides is fraught with danger as these dealers are not duly registered and operate on temporary sites. To trace them in the event of sharp practices will not only be difficult but fraught with legal technicalities.
Need To Call Some Policemen To Order
Security from the origin has always been the responsibility of the government to its subjects. Based on this, the security agents dispatched in all the nooks and crannies of Imo state, especially in the capital city of Owerri has become a total regret as some citizens have been at the relieving end of their excesses.
It is unfortunate that some Security Agencies operating in the state have resorted to taking laws into their hands.
Similarly, I wish to bring to the notice of the Government and Commissioner of police over the increasing rate of extortion by men who have vowed to protect lives and property. I have also witnessed where commuters, buses and keke riders are being detained, and taken to nearby police station all because they failed to “Roger policemen with N50”. Such act is so condemnable because they are derailing from their responsibilities.
It is in this vein that I call on His Excellency, Governor Rochas Okorocha and the Commissioner of police in Imo State involved to call these men to order before it becomes a total slap to the entire security agencies. They should be devoted, determined and conscious, refrain from hostility and cruelty.
Onyekachi Eze, Mgbidi
