The Governors of Ekiti, Osun and Edo States- Biodun Oyebanji, Senator Ademola Adeleke and Godwin Obaseki have cautioned filling stations and marketers in their states against hoarding of petroleum product or increasing the pump price arbitrarily.
In a statement signed separately by the three states revealed that heavy sanctions would be metted at any filling station/ marketer who smartly inflict hardship on citizens.
Special Adviser to the Governor of Ekiti State on Media and Strategy Mr Yinka Oyebode, urges the marketers to await further directives on the implementation of the planned subsidy removal by the Federal Government and avoid actions that are capable of inflicting hardship on the citizens.
According to the CPS, Governor Oyebanji has invited the leadership of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to a meeting in his office by 4pm today.
The Governor urges the citizens of the state to go about their daily activities peacefully and avoid any rancorous situation.
While Osun State Governor has vowed to seal off filling stations hoarding petrol according to a statement signed by the governor’s spokesman, Olawale Rasheed.
“Any fuel station found guilty of hoarding fuel to create artificial scarcity shall be sealed off and operators prosecuted for the crime of economic sabotage,”
The statement reads, “the Special Monitoring Team on fuel scarcity set up by His Excellency, Governor Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke headed by the Chief of Staff, Hon Kazeem Akinleye is still effective and shall not condone any form of economic
“As from today, May 30, 2023, the Committee shall begin special monitoring of all the filling stations across the state in collaboration with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders,”
In a related development,
The Edo State Governor via his Chief of Staff, Osaigbovo Iyoha in a statement said any petrol station caught hoarding products would lead to revocation of its landed property.
The statement reads, “The attention of Edo State Government has been drawn to the unscrupulous attempt by petrol dealers in the state to hoard fuel and create artificial scarcity and price hike.
“As a responsible government that cares for her citizens, we shall resist this economic sabotage by every legal means possible.
“To this end, all petrol stations are ordered to immediately resume sales of the products to Edo people or risk immediate closure, and possible revocation of their property to enable others who want to do legitimate and respectful business in Edo State come and invest,”
Iyoha noted that the government cannot continue to allow extortion of people in the State for whatever guise, warning that “a word is enough for the wise.”
The warnings to marketers and filling stations became necessary following the president declaration at his inaugural speech yesterday that subsidy has been removed.