Sokoto State Government and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria have struck a deal that both parties said would ensure availability and affordability of petroleum products in all parts of the state.
The state government had threatened to revoke the Certificate of Occupancy of any sales outlet hoarding petroleum products, following an artificial scarcity of the products for over two weeks now.
The deal was struck at a meeting between Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the Sokoto State chapter of IPMAN, led by its Chairman, Sulaiman Magaji, and members of the State Task Force on availability of petroleum products.
Speaking at the meeting, Tambuwal said that the state government would make available its fuel storage facilities to the marketers to enable them store enough supply for distribution.
The governor said, “We have a facility that can store 1.8 million litres of fuel here in Sokoto, we will make it available to marketers for you to store enough fuel for your stations and ensure it is available to the people at affordable prices.
“In the last few days, I have been fully briefed about the challenges you are facing, especially payment of debts owed by the Federal Government. As a government, we will take up your case in Abuja to ensure prompt payment.”
According to him, government would adopt the carrot and stick approach in dealing with the marketers, repeating his earlier warning that any station caught hoarding fuel would face the full wrath of the law.
In his remarks, Magaji said his members would explore all available avenues to ensure normalcy was restored in the supply of fuel throughout the state.
“Let me say here that all trucks sent to Sokoto will be dispensed and sold to the people without further delay. Similarly, all major marketers in Abuja and Lagos, who are indigenes of Sokoto will be brought on board to help in improving the situation,” he added.
While commending the state government for its keen interest in ensuring the resolution of the problem, the IPMAN chairman expressed delight at government’s commitment to tackling the various problems bedeviling fuel supply chain in the state
