A member of the House of Representatives, representing Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency of Ogun State, Gboyega Isiaka, has attributed the continued ban on the sale of petrol in border communities to security concerns.

Speaking in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Monday, while giving an account of his stewardship in the last two years at the Green Chamber, he said while the removal of petrol subsidy should have ordinarily rendered the restriction unnecessary, the continued enforcement of the policy was based on security intelligence available to the Federal Government.

Isiaka, who is the Chairman, House Committee on National Planning and Economic Development, said, “The policy was effective, but it needs to be reviewed now that subsidies have been removed.

“For security reasons, the ban is still in effect. The approval for the removal of the ban has to come from the security agencies before Nigeria Customs can implement it.

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“The government banned the sale of petrol in border communities to prevent fuel from being smuggled out of the country. But we all know that subsidy has been substantially or even totally removed, so in theory, that policy has outlived its usefulness.

“Ordinarily, the ban should have been lifted, but the security apparatus has access to more information than we do.

“When we presented this argument to them, they maintained that there are still reasons why the ban is effective. Since I do not have access to those reasons, I can only appeal for the gradual removal of the ban to ease the challenges of our people,” he said.In 2019, former President Muhammadu Buhari banned the supply of petroleum products to petrol stations within 20km of the country’s border, to curtail the diversion of fuel to neighbouring countries.

Although the Buhari government later granted some filling station waivers to sell fuel in the border communities, the number is, however, insignificant to the population of the areas.

Some of the affected areas in Ogun State include: Idiroko, Ijofin, Agosasa, Ipokia, Iwoye Ketu, Tube, Oniro, Araromi ofo, Ilate, Ohunbo, Agada, Maahun and Tungeji, across Ipokia and Imeko Afon Local Government Areas,

The PUNCH gathered that many of the residents depend on fuel supply from the black market for their daily and business activities.

Isiaka, however, appealed to the people of his constituency to remain patient with the government as efforts were ongoing to address the situation.

He assured them that engagements with relevant security agencies and government bodies were in progress to ensure a gradual lift of the ban, stressing that their concerns and daily struggles were well noted.