Fuel Scarcity: Osun Govt Assures Citizens Of Normalcy

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

Osun State government has assured citizens of the state that normalcy would soon be restored in the supply Premium Motor Spirit also known as petrol.

The tovernment also called for an end to the arbitrary hike in the price per litre of petrol in many filling stations in the state.

The state government called a stakeholders’ meeting with the Major and Independent Petroleum Marketers in the state aimed at fine tuning grey areas affecting the availability of petrol which held in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Empowerment, state Secretariat Complex, Abeere.

Speaking with the stakeholders, Governor Gboyega Oyetola said all necessary machinery will be put in place to make the product available very soon and also be sold at an official pump price of N162

Represented by the Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Dr.Bode Olaonipekun,, the governor said his administration will form a synergy with relevant regulatory agencies in order to get effective result.

His words: “The present administration in the state is not happy with the current hardships being experienced by the motoring and non motoring public.

” To this end, we are prepared to do all the needful within the ambit of the law to get normalcy returned in Osuun. Though the situation is not limited to Osun State alone, but I ssure you, that this administration will soon be on top of the situation.

“We can’t continue like this. We call for patient and understanding because very soon, both the motoring and non motoring public would heave a sigh of relief.”

In his remarks, Chairman, House Committee on Commerce ,Industry, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Hon. Lateef Adebisi Jayeola also condemned the development stressing that whatever is officially required to put a stop to the scarcity would be done by the state parliament.

He added that a special task force to that effect has been set up to address the issue of demand and supply of the PMS throughout the state.

The state lawmaker also called for restraint and understanding of the people pending when there would be the way out .

Also speaking, Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Osun State chapter, Alhaji Bukola Mutiu appreciated the various efforts of the Oyetola led government saying that he would be the first governor in the South West to create a stakeholders forum for petroleum marketers to register their concerns on the current situation.

While appreciating the governor and his administration for the genuine concern to ameliorate the situation for the overall happiness of the citizenry, he also sought the support and intervention of the state government to ensure the aavailabilityof the Petroleum products in the state.

Others present at the meeting were members of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority ( NMDPRA), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Manufacturer Association of Nigeria (MAN), Osun State Investment Promotion Agency (OSIPA).

Checks carried out by our correspondent revealed that filling stations in Osogbo where the product is available, are selling for between N250 and N300 per litre.

This development has made life more difficult for people as some of the motoring public who cannot afford to bear the price hike have to abandon their vehicles at home.