By Bisola Adeyemo
Ekiti State government, on Thursday, cautioned residents against keeping petroleum products in homes and any other unauthorized places to avoid fire disaster.
Following the recent announcement by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva over increment in fuel prices, some residents of Ekiti State have embarked on panic buying.
The Deputy Governor of the State, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, gave the warning in a statement issued by his Special Assistant (Media), Odunayo Ogunmola.
He warned petrol marketers against hoarding the commodity.
Egbeyemi said stocking fuel in homes, shops, offices could cause fire outbreaks, resulting in the loss of valuable lives and properties.
He assured the people that the government would do all it can to avert such avoidable disaster, stressing that the people were ignorant of how inflammable the product is.
He encouraged the people of Ekiti state to remain calm, as the government is striving to ensure that the state Petroleum Products Consumers Protection Agency (PPCPA) marketers sell the product to consumers at government-approved prices.
Part of the statement says: “We are using this opportunity to appeal to the good people of Ekiti State to avoid fire disaster.
“Stocking of petrol in private residences, offices and business centres is very risky.
“This could spark fire incidents that may lead to loss of precious lives and valuable properties. We don’t want lives to be lost and houses, shops and other property to be burnt.”
