Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Tuesday directed security men to enforce the ban on the hawking of petroleum products in the state as part of efforts to contain the scarcity of the products.

The directive was contained in a statement issued in Kaduna by Mr Samuel Aruwan, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity. According to the statement, filling stations across the state would no longer dispense the products in Jerry cans and related containers. The statement said that the ban was part of the decisions taken during Tuesday’s state Security Council meeting. It said that security agencies had been directed to enforce the ban in accordance with the Kaduna State Petroleum Products (Anti-Hoarding and Adulteration) Law of 1992.

The statement said that the ban prohibited sales of petroleum products in Jerry cans throughout the 23 local government areas of the state by hawkers. “This law empowers the task force to ensure that petroleum product were sold in a safe manner, with stiff penalty on violators.

“Council based its decision on legal and security considerations, compounded by the environmental hazard petroleum products in Jerry cans can cause,” it stated. The government also advised the public to help uphold and enforce the ban to ensure that fuel was only dispensed at filling stations.

Credit: Vanguard