House Of Reps Asks FG To Lift Ban On The Sale Of Petrol At Ogun Border
House of Representatives has asked Federal Government to lift the ban on the sale of petrol within 20 kilometres to the axis of Idiroko border with Benin republic in Ogun State.
The house adds that lifting of the ban should be extended to communities in international border communities in 14 other states.
The House passed the resolution, following a motion moved by Adegbboyega Isiaka, who said the ban was no longer necessary, following the removal of petrol subsidy.
According to Isiaka, the sale of petrol was banned in the border communities, by the Buhari admnistration when it shut Nigeria’s international land borders to stop smuggling of petrol out of the country.
He said that conitinued ban of petrol sale had been impacting negatively on the socioeconomic activities in the border communities.
The speaker, Tajudeen Abass, puts the motion to vote, and it was unanimously passed by members of the house.
The sudden announcement by Mr Tinubu caused a spike in the price of PMS across the country and removed the arbitrage between the price of the product in Nigerians and neighbouring
countries.
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While moving the motion, Mr Isiaka said, “Despite the removal of subsidy on petroleum products by the government, the ban is yet to be lifted, thus causing hardships to millions of Nigerians living and conducting businesses within the affected area (located in 15 states of the federation) who have to travel kilometres to get the products or pay an extra amount to secure the products for their daily needs.”
He described the policy as negatively impacting the people within 20 kilometres of the international border-radius.
Mr Isiaka urged the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and other relevant government agencies to immediately lift the ban, thus, allowing duly registered fuel stations within the communities to be supplied with petroleum products.
Members voted in support of the bill when Speaker Tajudeen Abbas put it to vote.
Consequently, the House mandated the Committee on Customs and Excise, when constituted, to ensure implementation.
