Ondo State government, on Sunday, threatened to shut any petrol station in the state hoarding fuel and making life difficult for the people of the state.
The Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Special Duties and Strategy, Dr Doyin Odebowale, who stated this in a statement signed by him, condemned the artificial scarcity created by some dealers in the state but said the state government will not hesitate to deal with any dealer who attempts to make life difficult for the citizens by hoarding the product
Odebowale who added that any attendant caught selling above the approved pump price will also be arrested and prosecuted, saying the aggressive measure was taken to tackle artificial scarcity of petroleum product in the state.
Odebowale who advised filling stations with the products to open and sell to the public at the official pump price warned that any dealer caught hoarding fuel will be arrested and prosecuted while the business premises will be sealed off.
The statement reads: “The Ondo State Government views, with grave concern, the latest attempt by some unscrupulous persons to create panic through the hoarding of PMS, fuel.
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“This assault on decency is coming at a time when the NNPC continues to reiterate facts on the availability of the product. Nigerians have been assured of a regular supply of the product and this government has no reason to disbelieve the organisation.
It is against this backdrop that the government warns, sternly, all petrol dealers in the State, to desist from any unpatriotic acts which may inflict pains on the people.
“We, on our part, will resist and sanction any untoward practice, conceived and/or executed, to engender hardship in the Ondo State.”
He said further, “consequently, the government directs all filling stations operating in the state to open same forthwith. Any dealer caught hoarding fuel will be arrested and prosecuted.
“The business premises affected shall be sealed. Any attendant caught selling petrol above the regulated pump price, under any guise, will be arrested and prosecuted.
“In a similar vein, the law enforcement agents are enjoined to arrest any person found hawking fuel in containers of any shape.”