Following the industrial action embarked upon by block moulders in Ondo State over the sudden hike in the price of sharp sand by tippers and quarry owners in the State, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has ordered the immediate ban of the activities of the latter’s operations across the State.
According to the Governor, the move became necessary after the Association of Tippers and Quarry Owners of Nigeria in the State failed to revert to the old price of sharp sand.
The Governor, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties and Strategy, Doyin Odebowale, fumed over the development, stressing that the association unilaterally increased the price of sharp sand by over 100 percent without considering its customers.
Daily post had last week reported how moulders under the aegis of National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria, NABMON, Ondo State chapter, downed tools and threatened to close shop over the astronomical increase. https://dailypost.ng/2021/08/12/ondo-block-moulders-down-tools-over-high-cost-of-sand/
It was gathered that the price of a big tipper load of sharp sand was increased from N30,000 to N60,000, while the smaller one which was sold for N20,000 is now N30,000.
Odebowale, who maintained that the state government would not allow any association to extort the people of the state, emphasized that if the sharp sand dealers refused to revert to the old price, they should be ready to leave the state.
While stating that government owed the people a duty of protecting them from any form of hardship, the governor’s aide said government will no longer condone the sharp practices and would not hesitate to arrest any erring member.
“Governor Akeredolu will not allow the sharp sand dealers to extort money from members of the public and make things difficult for the people.
“To be specific, we are hereby asking those who say or claim to be members of Tipper unions or whatever association to leave our Quarries, to leave our State immediately,” he said.
Meanwhile, the association had cited the high cost of motor spare parts and fuel as reasons for the new increase.
