Osun State Gov. Adeleke threatens to seal stations hoarding petrol

Osun State Government, Ademola Adeleke, has on Tuesday threatened to seal off filling stations in the state hoarding petrol amid the fresh fuel scarcity in Nigeria, saying any fuel station found guilty of hoarding fuel to create artificial scarcity shall be sealed off and operators prosecuted for the crime of economic sabotage.

Recall that the removal of fuel subsidy was a statement made by President Bola Tinubu during his inaugural speech at Eagle Square on Monday, immediately after he was sworn in.

“Any fuel station found guilty of hoarding fuel to create artificial scarcity shall be sealed off and operators prosecuted for the crime of economic sabotage,” the governor said in a statement on Tuesday by his spokesman, Olawale Rasheed.

It added that the removal of fuel subsidy by Bola Tinubu has caused unnecessary hardship for the people of the state.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has since backed Tinubu on the removal of fuel subsidy.

“This deliberate action is not only inhumane but unpatriotic and will not be allowed by the government. To this end, the Special Monitoring Team on Fuel Scarcity set up by His Excellency, Governor Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, headed by the Chief of Staff, Hon. Kazeem Akinleye, is still effective and shall not condone any form of economic sabotage.

“As from today, May 30, 2023, the Committee shall begin special monitoring of all the filling stations across the state in collaboration with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders,” it added.