EKITI NSCDC VOWS TO PROSECUTE PETROL BLACKMARKETERS

By Yemi Olajutemu

Ado Ekiti

The Ekiti State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has warned petroleum black marketers in the state to desist from the illicit trade or face the wrath of the law.

The state commandant Mr. John Olatunde Fayemi while parading some seized products recovered by Anti Vandal Operations at the command’s headquarters in Ado Ekiti noted that anybody who is caught sabotaging the economy of the nation through any means would not go unprosecuted.

Mr. Fayemi who frowned at the artificial scarcity of petroleum products in the state explained that some of the owners of filling station and some greedy marketers are in the habit of creating artificial scarcity in a bid to sell and dispense in the night at exorbitant prices. He observed that the act had made it difficult for consumers to buy the the PMS directly from filling stations, thereby creating illegal markets for the products at different corners.

The NSCDC boss lamented and highlighted the inherent physical and economic dangers in black-marketing of petroleum product, noting that several lives have been lost to fire outbreaks resulting from keeping petroleum products at home as well as grounding of economic activities in the society.

The Anti-Vandal Unit of the Corps has been moving round the 16 local governments in Ekiti State with a view to arresting and possibly confisticating petroleum products found to be proceed of black-marketing, enforcing the approved pump price and ensure that filling stations who have more than the required reserves,  sell the products to consumers who are struggling to purchase.

The Leader of the Anti-Vandal, Assistant Commandant Evans Imaro who is also the Head of the Unit disclosed that over 600 litres of Premium Motor Spirit was seized from the blackmarketers during the operation in Ekiti State with the owners taking to their heels thereby making it difficult to ascertain their owners as at press time.

In a statement by the Command’s spokesperson Mr Tolulope Afolabi, the Commandant advised the  people of the state to stay calm as normalcy in the selling and dispensing of the product will soon return to Nigeria as well as Ekiti State which will naturally end the black market regime.

He reinstated the commitment of Anti-Vandal Unit to continue with the arrest and seizure of illegal dealers and products of illicit market without considering whose ox is gored in the crime. He said that the act.amounts to economic sabotage which is punishable under the law.

 

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