Don’t Create Artificial Scarcity, Akeredolu Warns Petrol Marketers

The Ondo State Governor, Olarotimi Akeredolu, SAN,  has warned petrol marketers not to create artificial scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit also known as petrol.

This was made known by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Richard Olatunde on Wednesday just days after the country experienced a hike in petrol prices after President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidies.

The statement reads, “Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, has warned petroleum marketers and owners of fuel stations in the State against hoarding the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

The warning became necessary after long queues surfaced at filling stations across the state, notably in Akure, the state capital since Monday.

The Governor said all petrol stations in the state should dispense fuel in their tanks to ease the people of the long hours spent at fuel stations.

Consequently, Governor Akeredolu has directed the Governor’s Task Force to move around the State and deal decisively with any fuel station found hoarding the product.”

Meanwhile, the meeting between the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Federal government on Wednesday at the Presidential villa ended in a gridlock with no consensus agreement.

The spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, Dele Alake and the Group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari represented the government while the NLC National President, Joe Ajaero; and the President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Festus Osifo represented the organised labour.

Comrade Ajaero who criticized the subsidy removal stated that there were no palliative measures put in place to protect the Nigerian workforce and disclosed that the President cannot take a unilateral position to remove the subsidy.

Furthermore, NNPC has announced that it has adjusted its pump price which is subject to the realities of the country.