Date: 2018-01-13

A total of 2,100 litres of petrol seized from oil black marketers in various parts of Kwara State were sold free of charge to commercial vehicle and motorcycle operators in Ilorin on Friday.

The seized commodity, which was in 70 units of 25-litre plastic kegs and jerry cans, including funnel and buckets allegedly used by the black marketers in their illegal trade, was seized from oil black marketers at Zango area of the metropolis on December 23, 2017, against statutory provisions.

Ten litres of the petrol was given to commercial vehicle operators, five litres of petrol were distributed to tricycle and motorcycle operators in the distribution to the transport operators.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Friday, the state commandant of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr Adeyinka Ayinla, said that the seizure was carried out by anti-vandal and surveillance team of the agency in collaboration with state task force team on control, monitoring and sale of petroleum products.

The NSCDC boss, who said that the free distribution of the petroleum products was enforced based on court order secured from the state high court, warned individuals and dealers to desist or be dealt with according to provisions of the existing laws.

Also speaking, the commissioner for Information and Communication, Mallam Tunde Ajeigbe, commended efforts of the security agencies in the state, especially the civil defence corps, saying that the task force team would continue to monitor the sale of petroleum products in the state.

The commissioner, who lamented that activities of the illegal oil marketers had compounded fuel scarcity situation in parts of the state, said that the state government would continue to work with security agencies in the state correct all irregularities.

Beneficiaries of the free petrol commended the state government and the security agency on the efforts made so far, appealing to other agencies to emulate the gesture.