Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state has constituted a committee to monitor the artificial scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and its arbitrary pricing across the state.
The inauguration of the committee followed the persistent fuel scarcity being witnessed in the state as a result of the arbitrary pricing and hoarding of the product.
A statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Ibrahim Matane mandated the committee to ensure strict compliance with the approved allocation to filling stations in the state and retail prices for PMS.
The SSG explained that the people of the State are grappling the difficulties occasioned by the artificial scarcity and arbitrary pricing of PMS, adding that “there is the need for Government to take drastic position with a view to ameliorating the situation.”
The governor warned that government will deal decisively or sanction any filling station not dispensing its allocation and selling above the stipulated approved pump prices of in the State,
Matane stated that members of the committee were drawn from the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), security agencies and government officials.
