Osun State Government has stated that it has discovered how some fuel marketers and filling stations owners are diverting the Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) meant for the State to another states.
This is as the government warned the filling stations owners against diversion and hoarding of fuel allocated to the state, stating that perpetrators will face the wrath of the law.
The Chairman of the Petroleum Monitoring Committee of the state government, Hon Kazeem Akinleye in a statement said findings from the relevant agencies revealed that Osun state was allocated several tankers of PMS which are not reflecting across filling stations in the state, suggesting that the fuel has been diverted by filling owners.
The Committee Chairman who is also the Chief of Staff to the State Governor said his committee has contacted the petroleum authorities at the highest level and is therefore in possession of actual PMS allocation to Osun state including the actual list of companies and stations allocated those PMS.
” Our Committee had contacted the top management of the NNPC Limited and we have full details of filling stations and the exact number of PMS allocated to them from January to date. There are clear evidence that some owners of filling stations are diverting allocated PMS.
“We are by this statement placing on notice all owners of filling stations in Osun state that we have all the facts about allocated PMS. We will soon commence physical monitoring exercise and we will not hesitate to invoke regulatory actions on those found wanting.
” To make the exercise very inclusive , His Excellency, Mr Governor has approved the expansion of the committee to include members of civil society coalition. The committee will host its maiden meeting very soon”, the Committee Chairman noted.
Hon Kazeem assured members of the public that the committee started its job by getting to the root of actual PMS allocation to the state, informing the public that the monitoring activities will expose those behind current untold hardship being inflicted on the good people of Osun State.
” As part of the palliative measures, we are looking into various options. One of such include temporary free bus ride especially within the high population areas. We will soon come up with palliative measures.
” We reassure the public that the state government is acting fast to ease the burden and pain our people are passing through. The impact of several efforts we are making will soon be felt by the people”, the Committee Chairman stated.
