Civil Defense Corps Threaten to Shut Down Petrol Stations Selling Petrol above N97

Petrol pumpAs Nigerians continue to groan under the discomforts of unfavorable fuel prices being daily forced on them by petrol stations across the country, authorities of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Osun State have threatened to shut down any petrol station selling petrol above the official pump price of N97.

In a release issued by the Osun State command of the NSCDC, the state commandant of the security agency, Mr Felix Gbolade, said it was disturbing to note that some oil marketers were selling above N97 per litre. He cautioned that any dealer who failed to sell at the official price stood the risk of having his or her fuel outlet sealed by the officials of the NSCDC.

Describing the development as exploitative, Gbolade said his officers, from the beginning of this week, would comb all the nook and cranny of the state to monitor sales of petroleum products to motorists and clamp down on erring oil marketers. Contending that the oil marketers had no justifiable reason to sell above the normal pump price, he said, “some of them have been selling fuel to the public at prices ranging between N105 and N120 per litre and this trend is illegal and unacceptable.”

According to him, the corps had started enforcing the sales of fuel at the official pump price in Osogbo, the state capital, adding that the exercise would be extended to other parts of the state. He further stressed that his command would not relent in its effort at ensuring strict compliance with the official pump price, adding that members of the public should report any fuel dealer selling above the official pump price of N97 per liter.