The Osun State Government Taskforce on Petroleum Price Monitoring has warned petroleum marketers in the state against hoarding the products.

The warning is contained in a statement by Chairman of the taskforce, Kazeem Akinleye, on Sunday in Osogbo.

Mr Akinleye, who is also the Chief of Staff to Governor Ademola Adeleke, said investigation by the taskforce surveillance team said that most filling stations were hoarding the products thereby worsening the fuel supply situation in the state.

According to him, surveillance activities were conducted in major towns and the state capital in the last three days which indicated deliberate hoarding of fuel to create artificial scarcity.

“We are issuing a strong warning to the affected filling stations which are already listed as direct culprits to open up their tanks and dispense fuel to members of the public. We urge marketers to be public-spirited in their pricing of petroleum products and be reminded of the already harsh economic situation for members of the public. Failure to stop the fuel hoarding and take humanitarian notice of the prevailing economic situation in the country will lead to severe sanctions,” he said.

(NAN)