The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has deployed its operatives to depots and fuel stations in Cross River to ensure that available stock of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) is sold to the public.

Samuel Fadeyi, the State Commandant, NSCDC, said this to the media on Thursday in Calabar.

It had earlier been reported the closure of some filling stations within the state and the return of street hawking of fuel, immediately after the president’s inaugural remark on Monday that subsidy had been removed.

This act of hoarding by petroleum products dealers in the state caused untold hardships for the people as many were stranded in bus stops due to the unavailability of vehicles to convey them to their destinations.

Fadeyi who declared that there was no room for hoarding and hawking of the PMS in the black markets, also appealed to the people not to engage in panic buying.

“I have sent my men out to depots and fuel stations to ensure that available stock was sold to the people; this creation of artificial scarcity is not allowed.

“Right from 2022, there was an announcement that subsidy removal will commence from June 2023, the Federal Government had said it by the end of June, that there would be full deregulation of the product.

“Also, I am sure that the government is working on palliatives to absorb the shock that subsidy removal will bring to a lot of people, so, I urge Nigerians to be patient as the issues are resolved,” he said.

Fadeyi also said that he had mandated his men to arrest anyone engaging in the black marketing of petroleum products.

The commandant urged the public to report the activities of hawkers to the corps.