Kwara State Government Task Force on Monday raided some filling stations within the Ilorin metropolis, cautioning them against hoarding of fuel which the government says imposes needless hardship on the masses.
The government said the raid was part of the government’s measures to address fuel scarcity in the state.
“This is a committee set up by His Excellency AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to see to the problem of fuel shortage. As a responsible and responsive government, we cannot be folding our hands watching. We have to see that the majority of our people enjoy the dividends of democracy,” the leader of the task force and Chief of Staff Government House Prince Mahe Abdulkadir told reporters during during the exercise.
“We observed that the major marketers are doing their best so far because we checked their pits.”
Prince Abdulkadir called on the people of the state to be patient and avoid panic-buying
“We want to call on the people of the state to be patient and avoid panic buying, saying the federal government is not trying to increase the prices of fuel. We will make sure our people are not shortchanged,” he added.
Filling inspected include Total Energies Post Office Area; Rainoil Filling Station Asa Dam; NNPC Gerin Alimi; Total Energies Surulere; NNPC Surulere; and MRS Filling Station Oja-Oba.
The Chief of Staff called on the management of fuel stations dispensing fuel across the state to properly organise their customers to ensure orderliness.
Other members of the team were Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security Muyideen Aliyu, Permanent Secretary General Services in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government Alhaji Abdulrahman Babatunde; Director of Commerce in the Ministry of Business Innovation and Technology Mr Taiwo Adebisi and security agents.
At Rainoil Filling Station Asa Dam, NNPC Gerin Alimi, and NNPC Surulere, the team confirmed that there was enough fuel in their pits and encouraged them to continue to sell in an orderly manner.
Some of the managers, however, promised to avoid hoarding in the interest of the state.
In their reactions, some of the motorists on queue appealed to the government to continue to monitor sales of fuel to check hoarding and reduce hardship occasioned by fuel scarcity in the state.