Bayelsa flood: Price Control Committee meets with market union leaders.

Chairman of the Bayelsa State Price Control Committee, Mrs Patience Abah, has warned traders and filling station operators, for taking undue advantage of the flood situation by engaging in profiteering to desist or face the law.

 

Mrs Abah, handed down the warning during a sensitization meeting with markets union leaders of Kpansia, Agudama-Epie, Tombia, Swali, Opolo and Okaka markets in Yenagoa local government area.

 

Speaking with journalists shortly after the meeting in Yenagoa, Chairman of the Committee,  said the essence of the meeting was to enlighten the markets union leaders on the existence of the Committee that has been set up to control price of essential commodities including petrol product.

 

Empathizing with Bayelsans over the untold hardship occasioned by the flood, Mrs. Abah advised traders and filling station owners to be humane and not to inflict more pains on residents by unjustly increasing the prices of their product.

 

Mrs Abah, who is also the permanent secretary, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment, said the committee was instituted by Governor Douye Diri, in response to the public outcry on the exorbitant prices that appeared to be a prevailing practice in the state.

 

The committee chairman who said, some traders are responding to the prevailing circumstances in terms of difficulty in transportation and disruption of the value chain, however warned those involved in the sharp practice to relocate, saying Bayelsa would not be a landing spot.

 

She highlighted some of the Committee’s functions to include, ensuring that the objectives of federal government price act was implemented, assist the federal price control board in ensuring that consumers are not undue advantage of the situation and as well as ensure that charges of essential commodities are fair.

Mrs Abah, assured that in no distance time, Bayelsans would see actions taking by the committee aimed at eradicating unwholesome practice in the price of goods and services.

 

She Reeled out some of the Committee’s strategies in achieving its objectives to include sensitizing Bayelsans through the media, embarking on routine inspection tour to markets and filling stations sensitizing consumers on their rights and also established hot lines for complaints, saying plans  are underway to hold town hall meeting with market union leaders at the rural areas.

 

Reminding Bayelsans of punitive measures for offenders, Mrs Abah, said offenders could bag six months to one year in imprisonment as well as forfeiture of goods and services and promised to invoke the law on any trader petrol stations that arefound wanting.

 

Speaking on behalf of their market union leaders, Chairman of Kpansia and Swali altra-modern markets, Chief Adevuya Otobo and Mr British Amgbare, thanked Governor Diri for the steps in addressing the plights of flood victims as well as the Committee for convening the meeting.

 

Chief Otobo and Mr Amgbare, who promised to in turn sensitize their members, pleaded with the committee to also consider them in their decision making in order to give them a sense of belonging.