Amid the ongoing nationwide fuel scarcity, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has asked the Ondo State task force to deal with oil marketers hoarding petrol from consumers. 

Mr Akeredolu gave the directive on Wednesday, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Richard Olatunde, in Akure, as residents of the state joined the rest of the country to groan over the nationwide scarcity.

“Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, has warned petroleum marketers and owners of fuel stations in the State against hoarding the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

“Consequently, Governor Akeredolu has directed the Governor’s Task Force to move around the State and deal decisively with any fuel station found hoarding the product,” an excerpt from the statement obtained by Peoples Gazette read.

Mr Akeredolu said that the warning became necessary after long queues re-surfaced at filling stations across the state, especially in Akure, the state capital. 

He, however, ordered that all petrol stations in the state should dispense fuel in their reservoirs to ease the people of the long hours spent at fuel stations.

Residents of the state woke up on Tuesday to the scarcity of fuel shortly after President Bola Tinubu declared that his government would do away with fuel subsidy. 

In his inaugural speech, Mr Tinubu said that fuel subsidy was only profiting the rich at the expense of the country’s economic growth, noting that it can no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources. 

He added that the funds previously used to subsidise petrol for Nigerians, should going forward be re-channeled towards infrastructure and investment. 

“We shall instead re-channel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, health care, jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions,” Mr Tinubu said shortly after taking his oath of office.