Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has warned oil marketers in the state against hoarding and profiteering of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol.
The warning is sequel to the sudden hike by marketers of petrol to N600 per litre, following President Bola Tinubu’s pronouncement in his inaugural address that “fuel subsidy is gone”.
Diri, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, warned that his administration would take stern measures against any filling station that flouted the directive.
He said the state government had received reports that some filling stations in the state capital had hiked the pump price of petrol above the usual price of between N193 and N250 per litre to N500 per litre and above.
The governor stated: “Marketers in the state are said to have reacted to the pronouncement of President Bola Tinubu during his inauguration on Monday that the Federal Government subsidy on petrol is gone.
READ ALSO: Subsidy: Petrol queues’ll end soon ― NNPCL
“The Presidency, however, issued a clarification statement on Tuesday that the removal of the subsidy was yet to take effect.”
Diri said it was wicked for oil marketers to swiftly seek to profiteer at the detriment of the people following a mere pronouncement that had not taken effect, adding that the pump price of petrol is a significant determinant of the cost of goods and services in the country.
The governor assured that his administration would not allow the people of Bayelsa State to suffer undue hardship from the profiteering activities of some “greedy” businessmen.
Governor Diri said he had directed the Bayelsa State Ministry of Mineral Resources and the petroleum task force in the state to shut any filling station hoarding petrol or caught selling above the usual pump price.
“I have equally directed that any filling station that flouts this directive or fails to revert to the usual price be shut down. We will take further stern measures against any station that defaults.
“This directive takes immediate effect,” Governor Diri added.
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