Mr Titus Abana, the Borno chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to prosecute anyone who hoard petroleum products.

The labour leader made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri. Abana said this would not only be the lasting solution to fuel scarcity but would also ensure availability of the product at the government approved price of N86 and N86.50 per litre, respectively.

“I encourage the government to do more to enforce the current price of petrol in filling station.

“Dealers found hoarding or diverting the commodity must be treated as saboteurs and saboteurs must be prosecuted to send signals to others,’’ he said. Abana added: “Fuel hoarding is an act contrary to the laws of the country, and once you have been found to contravene the laws you must be jailed.

“Once you contravene the laws you will be liable for prosecution and sentence by law courts.’’ He said that the problem had to do with some fuel dealers who were only interested in making money at the detriment of the masses.

“We are supposed to be honest and transparent so we can move Nigeria to greater height. “The fuel is there, but the dealers just want to squeeze Nigerians and make quick money, this is an artificial scarcity,” Abana said.

He said government had been able to maintain uniform fuel price in the past through strict regulation.

“If government agencies entrusted with enforcing fuel sales at government prices do their work it will be available at the price.

“The only thing is that government is not serious,’’ Abana said. He added that although the situation had improved all over the country, there is the likelihood of fuel shortage in the nearest future.

“There is slight improvement now in the supply at government price in the state. But we do not know whether it will continue like this,’’

Abana said. He added: “Government can enforce the price if it is serious, government has the power to enforce the price.’’