Gov Otu orders petrol stations to sell at normal rate, freezes govt accounts

Gov Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River State has ordered all petrol stations in the state to immediately open and sell their products to the people until all issues have been well sorted out.

He has also ordered that all bank accounts operated by the state government be freezed.

Otu gave the directives on Tuesday evening when he spoke with journalists.

Otu said, “There is no need to make life too difficult for Cross Riverians. I appeal to oil marketers to open their fuel stations and sell fuel at the approved pump price”.

On freezing bank accounts belonging to the state government, the Governor said: “I have asked all accounts of the state to be frozen immediately and that all transactions be stopped forthwith.

“I have been briefed by the Accountant General and the head of service. I have informed them that we need to do a needs assessment in terms of employment and other things”

He also said that all internally generated revenue of the state will be channeled into a single account.

On security, Governor Otu said “today we had a meeting with all security chiefs and I reiterated that all criminals in the state should accept our amnesty programme within the window that it will be opened or they must leave the state.”

Otu also said that he has set up a transition review committee which will be headed by former executive secretary of National Planning Commission, Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo, with Prof. Eyo Etim Nyong as member and Prof. Owan Enoh as Secretary