The youths of Ipokia Local Government under the umbrella body of Ipokia Local Government Youth Forum IPYF has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend the Restrictions placed on Fuel supply to border communities, especially Ipokia local government in Ogun state
It would be recalled that the former President, Muhammad Buhari restricted PMS supply to border communities in a bid to checkmate smuggling of fuel to neighboring countries, setting a boundary of 20km away from borders which has striped all filling stations within the range of 20km to the borders the right of selling fuel.
The Appeal was made known In a statement signed by the
General Secretary, Ipokia Local Government Youth Forum (IPYF), Adeyemi Sulaimon Olusegun and made available to journalists where he narrated that the residents of Ipokia on daily basis for several years go through several agonies to get fuel and that has continued to take its tolls on economic activities in the area.
The IPYF Secretary maintained that the policy has resulted into pushing legitimate businesses into extinction while others are struggling to survive.
He therefore enjoined the president to as a matter of urgency Suspend the policy as residents of Ipokia local government can no longer cope.
According to the statement ,”We would like to congratulate our President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR on your assumption of office as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As you have aimed for prosperity for Nigeria to be great again, may God help you succeed.”
“We the formidable youth group of Ipokia Local Government, Ogun State write to you as we see it as a matter of urgency that we need to call your attention to the agonies and difficulties we have been experiencing from time immemorial of your predecessor former President, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari over 20KM suspension of PMS supply to border communities; which Idiroko border is not left out.”
“Imperatively, as a beau monde of our world; we understand the goal of this policy. It was targeted at the smuggling of our subsidized PMS to our neighbouring countries and this was firmly achieved but the common man is still dealing with its reverberation. It would interest you that only FOUR fueling stations were approved to operate in Ipokia Local Government because of our continuous agitation and meeting with the necessary stakeholders, this is a LGA with a population of over 700,000 dwellers. Most inhabitants have to travel as far as 20 km to get fuel to run their respective businesses, farm machinery, clinics/hospitals and daily domestic uses. This had subjected us to undue hardship for almost 5 years, and still counting.”
“Alas, this is a Local Government Area that had been cut off from the power supply for over 15 years as we solely depend on PMS to go about our daily lives and businesses. We lack all forms of social amenities without no hope in sight. Our economy had crumbled as most artisans and businessmen/women had deserted our communities to continue their daily lives elsewhere, as there’s no power supply and yet again, they couldn’t get fuel for their daily businesses; those that could get fuel are getting it at an exorbitant price in our localities, as it had turned to a very scarce commodity.”
“We have put several efforts in place with the past administration to ease this sting of federal Government policy on our people but it all fell on deaf ears. We sincerely do know that you’re a crackerjack economically-oriented leader that understands how all of this works. Ipokia Local Government Youth Forum and the good people of Ipokia Local Government solemnly do plead with you to use your good office to lift this suspension since subsidy which had been a cankerworm that had eaten deeply into our economy as a country had been relinquished. We think it’s no longer important that this policy should continue. It’s no longer news that the subsidy removal is leaving a tough time for Nigerians at the moment but our case is different because we’re experiencing twice the effect of the subsidy removal due to the 20KM PMS supply suspension axed on us.”
“Furthermore, it’s obvious in your strides as the uno numero of our dear nation; that you have been up and doing since you assumed office to cushion the fallout of the fuel subsidy removal on all Nigerians by engaging all the necessary stakeholders, which shows you’re prepared for the tasks at hand and ahead. We implore that lifting the 20KM PMS supply suspension to border communities should also be included in your blueprint to make life easier for us.”The statement Added
“Also, as the 9th National Assemblies wound down and the 10th National Assemblies line up, we call on Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola YAYI- Senator-Elect, Ogun West and Hon. Akinlade Isiaq Abiodun-House of Representatives Member-Elect, Yewa-South/Ipokia Federal Constituency to gear up in their responsibilities to our cause, as these are the people you have promised to represent and anything worth doing at all, worth doing well. We implore that this out of the one hundred and one impediments we’re facing as a people tops your bucket list at the 10th National Assembly of both green and red chambers.”
“We pray as you all assume your offices at different capacities, God would abide and guide your paths with boffo performance to provide succour to our various interests.”
Mr. President sir, we look forward to a new dawn in our dear Local Government by easing this policy aiming our jugular with synergy with our representatives at the national level.
