By Gbenga Sodeinde
Heritagenewsng reports that, the Ekiti State Government has warned that any Fuel Station found of hoarding premium motor spirit (PMS) called Petrol in the state will be closed down and charged accordingly.
Chief of staff to Ekiti State Governor, Hon Biodun Omoleye gave the warning in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday during an enforcement exercise tour of fuel stations within Ado metropolis.
Omoleye accompanied by executives of the petroleum products regulation and consumer protection agency (PPRCPA) led by it’s chairman Mr. Peter Adekunle also urged residents to desist from panic buying due to the volatile nature of petrol and the weather.
He assured residents of government’s commitment to their wellbeing, hence would resist any move to bring about discomfort and hardship on the people of the State.
He implored residents to desist from panic buying, exercise patience and maintain order while queuing for petrol as government was on top of the situation.
“People should not engage in panic buying, people should not hoard fuel as this is the time of dry season. Government will continue to put in place effective mechanism that will guarantee and ensure that people’s means of livelihood are not distorted by the scarcity.”
He advised commercial vehicles and okada riders not to create unnecessary hardship on the people as the problem is a National issue which Ekiti is trying to solve between now and end of the week.
The Chairman Ekiti state petroleum taskforce Mr.Peter Adekunle in an interview explained that fuel scarcity is a national issue.
He expressed optimism that the issue would soon be the thing of the past and asked residents not to patronize black market or store the product at home.
Commuters and residents at the NNPC filling station along bank road who were victims of the hardship thanked Omoleye for his quick intervention to ease the stress of queuing for hours.
They however called on government to intensify on the enforcement exercise by deploying more petrol taskforce officers across the state as they alleged that the independent petrol marketers are responsible for the hoarding of the product in the state.