Oshiomhole Warns Petrol Marketers

Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has warned petroleum marketers in the state that the government would not hesitate to revoke the Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) of their land if they refuse to open their stations and dispense fuel at N97 per litre to the public.

Apparently reacting to the long queue witnessed at some filling stations that dispensed petroleum products to customers, the governor who went round petrol stations in Benin City, the state capital to monitor the level of compliance with the new price regime, was irked that many stations remained shut to motorists, even when they had petrol to dispense.

At the ConOil station, Uselu Shell Junction, the governor directed the station manager who had stopped selling to the public at about 4 p.m. to continue to sell to them.

“The Federal Government which has directed all petroleum marketers to revert to N97 is determined that the reduction in the price is beneficial to the ordinary man. Therefore, the benefit of reduction must be seen to be passed to the ordinary man,” he noted.

According to him, “if you don’t sell to the public, I will revoke the Certificate of Occupancy of the land belonging to the marketer. The ordinary man should feel the reduction.”

The governor who was also at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation mega station on Sapele road also advised that any petroleum marketer not ready to sell should be ready to relocate and commended the NNPC mega station for selling to the public at the government approved rate.

He said it was sad that the marketers were quick to adjust their pump to reflect N141 to N145 per litre, but are reluctant to reduce it to the new regime of N97 per litre.

He said government would invite the marketers to a meeting where they would be told about the need for them to revert to the new price regime.

Meanwhile, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has expressed satisfaction with the construction work going on at Airport Road, the drainage work at the Shittu Alao Air Force Base and the Ugbowo to Dawson additional lanes being constructed by the state government.

“We want to take advantage of the dry season to ensure that the projects are completed early. We don’t expect the flooding by Tomline area on Ugbowo Road to occur during the rainy season, as we are looking forward to the rainy season without fear,” he added.

—Yomi Obaditan- Benin City