Ekiti Reads Riot Act To Marketers Over Fuel Scarcity, Price Hike

Following the acute fuel scarcity in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government, the state government has read the Riot Act to oil marketers in the state, threatening to sanction the erring ones.

The scarcity had caused sharp increases in the pump prices of the commodity with both the  independent and major marketers selling between N195 and N600 per litre.

Long queues of vehicles and motorcycles were also seen in a few petrol stations selling the commodity.

Reacting to the situation,  Governor Biodun Oyebanji said heavy sanctions await any filling station or marketer found hoarding petroleum products or involved in arbitrary increase in prices in the state.

The governor was reacting to the actions of filling stations owners and marketers  following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s inaugural speech where he removed fuel subsidy.

Oyebanji urged the marketers to await further directives on the implementation of the planned subsidy removal by the federal government and avoid actions that are capable of inflicting hardship on the citizens.

The governor in a statement issued yesterday by his special adviser (Media), Yinka Oyebode, invited the leadership of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to a meeting in his office.

He urged the residents to go about their daily activities peacefully and avoid any rancorous situation.

Meanwhile, majority of the stations, however, refused to sell the commodity to the consumers as they closed shops to stop motorists from queuing in their outlets.

Some of the Independent marketers sold the commodity at a rate of N245, N300 and N350 per litre.

The highest pump price recorded in the state capital was at a petrol station, belonging to an independent marketer, which sold at N600 per litre.