Niger State Government has warned fuel marketers in the state against hoarding fuel, promising to take decisive action against those found hoarding the commodity.
The Deputy Governor of the state, Comrade Yakubu Garba, made this declaration shortly after inspecting some fuel stations in Minna and its environs, Wednesday. He said the essence of democracy was to improve the socio-economic and welfare of the people, but that with this latest development on fuel subsidy removal, things will turn the other way for the people.
The deputy governor disclosed that the move was a directive from Governor Umar Mohammed Bago, to ensure that fuel marketers did not hide under the subsidy removal to cause untold hardship on the masses by hoarding the fuel. He also warned in strong terms that, any fuel station found wanting will be dealt with decisively, as the government will ensure that such fuel marketer's license was withdrawn and sent packing from the state. He disclosed that the fuel subsidy removal policy was in place since about six months before their coming to power, and that they will do everything possible to ensure that they mitigate the pains that will accompanied the implementation of the policy. "Right now all the governors are in a meeting with the President in Abuja, and they will also proceed to Kaduna for Governors' meeting where they will take a decision that will be submitted to the President. "I want to assure all Nigerlites that whatever the outcome of the meeting, Niger state government under the leadership of Hon. Umar Mohammed Bago, will make sure that it did something that will cushion the effects of the policy," said the deputy governor.
He equally appealed to Nigerlites to be patient as the governors were doing their best to have a head way, adding that they should not allow themselves to be used by some people to cause any uproar in the state as a result of the subsidy removal.
Speaking to journalists also, the state Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Hon. Adamu Ahmed Erena, said the association was on the same page with the government, but that where the fuel was not available, there would be nothing for their members to sale.
Also, the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Abdulkareem Lafene, declared that they were not in support of the removal of the fuel subsidy, adding that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the labour union will meet soon to take decision which he did not rule out the possibility of a strike action.
The Deputy Governor was accompanied for the inspection by the state Commissioner of Police, the state Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), the Permanent Secretary Government House, state Chairman of IPMAN and that of NLC, as well as other stakeholders.