In response to the growing hardship faced by residents of Kwara state due to the scarcity of petroleum products, Governor AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman, along with the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, has issued a stern warning to fuel dealers engaging in hoarding and unjustifiably increasing prices.
Governor AbdulRazaq expressed his firm stance against anyone misrepresenting the good intentions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and causing undue hardship to innocent residents. He stressed that individuals caught in such activities would face severe consequences, including the revocation of their Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) for the affected petroleum stations.
To ensure strict compliance with the directive, the Governor has assigned his Deputy, Mr. Kayode Alabi, to lead a task force dedicated to monitoring and enforcing the regulations. This announcement was made in a press statement released by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, during a press briefing in Ilorin on Tuesday afternoon.
In the statement, Governor AbdulRazaq expressed deep concern over reports of sudden fuel scarcity across various parts of the state, describing it as entirely uncalled for. He called on fuel marketers to promptly release their fuel stocks to the public at normal pricing since they had acquired their current supplies at subsidized rates.
The Governor emphasized that creating artificial scarcity amounted to an intentional misrepresentation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s stance on the fuel subsidy issue. He made it clear that the people of Kwara state should not be subjected to unnecessary hardships.
Governor AbdulRazaq urged fuel marketers to refrain from engaging in activities that could be deemed economic sabotage against the people. Hoarding fuel purchased at subsidized prices and causing panic within the state was described as opportunistic behavior that would not be tolerated.
To enforce compliance, the Deputy Governor, Mr. Kayode Alabi, will head the newly formed task force, which aims to prevent fuel marketers from inflicting undue hardship on the citizens of Kwara State. The Governor’s office warned fuel stations that the task force would take strong action against any establishment found guilty of hoarding fuel, including revoking their Certificate of Occupancy (CofO), in addition to other penalties.
The people of Kwara state are hopeful that this crackdown on fuel hoarding and price manipulation will lead to improved availability of petroleum products at affordable prices, easing their burden in these challenging times.
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