Setonji David, the lawmaker representing Badagry II constituency at the Lagos state house of assembly, wants President Muhammadu Buhari to end the diversion of petrol to neighbouring countries, particularly Benin Republic, through the Seme border in Lagos.
David, who made the plea on Sunday in an interview with NAN, said residents of Badagry have noticed daily movement of tankers fully loaded with petrol, into the Republic of Benin.
The smuggling of the product, he said, is to frustrate efforts of the federal government in ending current fuel scarcity.
“Those of us in Badagry axis have noticed an excruciating and unpalatable trend that is aggravating the hardship and causing further pain for our people,” he said.
“Since the commencement of the current scarcity, fuel tankers fully loaded with PMS are being ferried to the neighbouring country, precisely Republic of Benin.
“A minimum of 50 tankers are being driven out of the country to Benin through Seme border in Badagry while our people are suffering untold hardship.
“A few fuel stations that sell in Badagry presently sell between N200 and N250 per litre.”
David, who chairs the house committee on physical planning and urban development, stressed that the government must stop the diversion to reduce the suffering of Nigerians.
He urged the government to compel the department of petroleum resources (DPR), security agencies and the Nigeria customs service to end the practice.
Credit: thecablesng
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