The Sokoto State government has banned the sale of petroleum products into jerry cans in all the filling stations across the State.

Also, the government fixed a maximum purchase of N5000 and N500 for motorists and motor-cyclists respectively.

The decision was reached after a meeting with the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), at Sokoto Guest Inn.

According to the state government, the new ‘at a go’ purchase, is part of measures to check the activities of bandits and other criminal activities in the State.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the State Commissioner for Commerce, Bashar Gidado, said the decision was taken in order to discourage supply of petroleum products to bandits in their hideout.

He assured that the state government will not hesitate to review the ban once security situations improve as expected.

On his own part, the chairman of the state chapter of IPMAN, Abubakar Usman, said;

“The governor set up a task force to implement his executive order on insecurity and part of which is the ban on selling of petroleum into jerry cans for anyone in the state. There is also an order to peg the maximum amount of the products at five thousand naira for motorists and five hundred naira for motorcycles respectively.

We have notified all our members across the twenty-three local government areas of the state that any filling station selling for jerry can or selling above the recommended price will be prosecuted accordingly”.