No to petrol hoarding and diversion

NSCDC

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Bauchi State has moved against the diversion and hoarding of petroleum products.

It has declared a war against the hoarding of petrol.

NSCDC vowed to end shortage of petroleum products, which it noted are being diverted by selfish and unpatriotic dealers.

The Commandant, Donatus Ikemefuna, who spoke yesterday in Bauchi while parading 40 suspected illegal petroleum products sellers, said the suspects were allegedly caught with three drums and 82 kegs (jerry-cans) of 25-litre capacity filled with petrol, contrary to the government position on the sale of petroleum products.

He said: “The daily manifest of petrol allocation to Bauchi State from Kano depot, which is sent to my office on a daily basis, is enough to serve the state, but there are long queues at filling stations.

“About 473,976 litres of petrol were supplied to Bauchi on March 21. This would have eased the acute shortage experienced, but the reverse is the case.”

Attributing the shortage to the activities of miscreants, Ikemefuna said they either sell the products at night to illegal dealers at exorbitant prices in jerry- cans and drums, or divert them to the hinterland and sell above the official pump prices.

He warned the dealers to desist from acts that would endanger their lives and advised youths engaged in selling petrol in jerry-cans to desist.