The Kwara State Government yesterday warned that it would not hesitate to shut down any filling station in the State found to be hoarding petroleum products or adjusting its meters.
The chairman of the newly reconstituted Task Force on Petroleum products, Alhaji Issa Bawa handed down the warning during an inspection visit to NNPC depot, Oke-Oyi, Ilorin.
Bawa, who is also the commissioner for Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs, said that the task force was determined to give necessary support and assistance that would ensure that the persistent scarcity of fuel in the State was brought to an end.
He said that the government was worried about the perennial fuel scarcity in the state and warned marketers to desist from hoarding fuel and adjusting their meters.
The taskforce chief also appealed to the people of the State to join hands with the government in its effort to secure NNPC pipelines against vandalism.
A senior officer in the depot attributed the fuel scarcity to pipeline vandalism and erratic power supply.
He, however, noted that there was enough fuel for distribution from Ibadan axis, appealing to the State government to come to the depot’s aid in the area of security of the pipelines by donating two Hilux Vans for monitoring the facilities.