On Sunday, Libyan Parliament Speaker, Ageela Saleh met with the mayors of 24 municipalities from the western region.
The meeting, attended by MP’s Ali Bouzriba, Sabah Jumaa, Abdulsalam Al-Marabet, and Halima Al-Sadiq focused on the current conditions, needs, and requirements of municipalities.
The discussions addressed the call from the mayors for reconstruction and development projects.
They emphasised the need for these initiatives to be extended to their areas, aligning with other municipalities that have already initiated reconstruction and development efforts.
Notably, the Mayor of Sebha, Belhaj Ali highlighted the fuel shortage crisis in southern Libya, attributing it to insufficient supplies from the Sebha oil depot. He urged the National Oil Corporation (NOC) to address the deficit, emphasising the impact on residents and the region’s black market fuel prices.
Ali mentioned the struggle with high fuel costs, with petrol reaching 8.5 Libyan Dinars (LYD) per liter in surrounding areas. During a meeting with the Minister of Local Governance in the Government of National Unity (GNU), Ali revealed promises for increased fuel supplies to the South.
The Mayor expressed concerns about cooking gas shortages during winter, with demand surges and black-market prices exceeding 100 LYD per cylinder. He disclosed that private sector involvement in gas distribution adds to the challenges faced in the south.
Additionally, Ali raised issues with sewage problems, affirming potential environmental disasters if sewage treatment stations are not provided. He highlighted the risk posed by an earth dam blocking water to the city, calling for immediate attention.
Regarding road infrastructure, Ali criticised the state’s inability to address the dire road conditions, particularly the hazardous routes connecting Sebha to other regions. He pointed out several buildings were at risk of collapse, and highlighted the residents’ pleas for attention.
Ali urged all relevant authorities to focus on the south, providing essential commodities and addressing citizens’ grievances in various sectors.