The Kwara State government on Saturday announced the discovery of at least 129 filling stations illegally operated with no approval from relevant agencies in the state.

The permanent secretary, Kwara State Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Mustapha Abdullahi, disclosed this at a public hearing on proliferation of filling stations organised by the state House of Assembly.

Abdullahi urged that stiff sanctions should be meted out to operators of the illegal filling stations, adding that no stations should be allowed within three kilometres radius of core areas in Ilorin.

He further urged the legislature to pass the pending Urban and Regional Planning Board Bill to check haphazard development of property in the state.

At the public hearing, the Speaker of the State Assembly, Ali Ahmad, assured that the culprits involved in the operating of illegal filling stations would be sanctioned.

He explained that putting together the public hearing was in response to the cries of the people against illegal construction of filling stations in the state, assuring that the House would carry out its legislative functions without fear or favour.