In response to the recent fuel scarcity and arbitrary price hikes in Edo State, the government has launched an inspection exercise to curb hoarding and regulate the market.
Led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Projects, Cruseo Osagie, the task force inspected fuel stations in Benin Metropolis on Tuesday to identify and address instances of hoarding, artificial scarcity, and price manipulation.
During the inspection, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mining, Ferguson Enabulele, expressed concerns over the discovery of under-dispensing and overpricing at some fuel stations.
He emphasized that the state government has not received any formal notification from relevant authorities regarding the deregulation of the petroleum sector, and therefore, the old prices still stand.
Enabulele stated, “We are engaging with the DPR Office in the State to determine the root cause of the issue and find a lasting solution. We will also invite owners of filling stations to discuss the matter further. Our goal is to ensure that the residents of Edo State have access to affordable and available fuel.”
He appealed to the public to remain patient as the government works to resolve the issue through further engagements with the Department of Petroleum Resources.
