By Adedapo Adesanya
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) Osogbo Field Office in Osun State has warned residents of the state against panic buying, hoarding and storing of petroleum products at home during the Yuletide period.
This call was made by Mr Benjamin Ogunnubi, the DPR Operations Controller on Thursday, December 17 in Osogbo, assuring that the federal government had made adequate provision for the availability of the products during the festive season and beyond.
The Controller reminded consumers and Nigerians that storing petroleum products at home could cause a fire outbreak among other damages.
He said people needed to be very careful with how they handle petroleum products in the harmattan period.
Mr Ogunnubi also warned independent marketers against hoarding the products to create artificial scarcity, as the trend had been in recent years.
He said a surveillance team of the department would be all out during the festive season to ensure the free flow of the products in filling stations in the state.
“The department is pleading with people to shun panic buying and storage of petroleum products in their houses.
“We are in the harmattan period, and storing of petroleum product at home can result in a fire outbreak, which can lead to the destruction of lives and property.
“We have to be wise, there’s no reason for panic buying or hoarding of the product because we have enough of it in stock,” Mr Ogunnubi said.
The Controller also appealed to consumers to report sharp practices, such as under-dispensing, to the department for appropriate action.
Mr Ogunnubi appealed to petroleum marketers to always adhere strictly to standard safety practices in their filling stations, warning that any marketer that violates the standard procedure would be dealt with according to the law.
He added that the federal government was working hard towards ensuring that alternative fuels were rolled out at affordable rates to ease dependence on petroleum products.
Modupe Gbadeyanka