The newly deployed Katsina State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Jamilu Indabawa, has vowed to end the current long queues being witnessed at filling stations.
Commandant Indabawa who gave the assurance, when he met with the leadership of the Katsina State chapter of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, said his command is committed to tackling the fuel shortage caused by a myriad of issues, negatively affecting the availability of the product.
In a statement by the command’s spokesman, Deputy Superintendent of Corps, Muhammed Abdara, the commandant said that the diversion of petroleum products allocated to the state, economic sabotage and inadequate supply of the product from the depots, have been hampering the efforts of the government at the Federal and State levels, to maintain an adequate supply of the fuel, especially Premium Motor Spirit, PMS.
He also warned the marketers that he has been posted to Katsina State to tackle the menace with renewed vigour, expressing his displeasure at the sufferings caused by the fuel shortage to the ordinary Nigerians, who waste precious hours queueing for petrol.
The Commandant equally cautioned the marketers against hoarding or selling the limited product to black marketers, who may be smuggling it to the neighbouring countries.
The leadership of IPMAN led by its Chairman, Abbas Hamza, assured the Commandant of their readiness to fully cooperate with the command, to ensure the continuous supply of the fuel allocated to, and sold in the state.
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They also assured him that the association is doing its best to tackle the problem of diversion/smuggling, which may be committed by unscrupulous marketers while maintaining that, they are still abiding by the Katsina State Government’s directive, forbidding the sale of petroleum to black marketers, to prevent smuggling or selling the product to bandits.
Commandant Indabawa, therefore, appealed to the general public to be patient, and cooperate with the command, as it strives to hold all stakeholders accountable, improve the availability of the product, and ease the long queues at the petrol stations.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)