DPR seals 12 fuel stations

chika ebuzor

December 18, 2017 8:15 PM

DPR's North-East Coordinator, Alhaji Idris Zoaka, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri.

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on Monday said it sealed 12 erring fuel dispensing stations in Borno for various offences.

Its North-East Coordinator, Alhaji Idris Zoaka, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri.

Zoaka said that the stations were found to be engaging in hoarding, diversion and over pricing of products.

He explained that the erring stations were sealed in the past one week, adding that they were also fined in accordance with laws governing operations.

He added that “the measure was necessary to end scarcity and enhance availability of petroleum products in the state.

“We make sure that the stations dispensed fuel to consumers but must pay the fine before they could resume operation.”

Zoaka said the department was working in collaboration with Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to sensitise members on dangers associated with hoarding and over-charging consumers.

He disclosed that the NNPC had supplied 69 trucks of petroleum products in the past one week to the state.

The coordinator said the products included Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), diesel and kerosene, and expressed the hope that the situation would change in view of improvement in the supply.

Zoaka urged motorists to cooperate with the department and provide useful information on stations engaged in hoarding and dispensing fuel above approved pump price.

Meanwhile, a check by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri metropolis showed that there were long queues in the few available dispensing stations, as most of them run out of stock.

The situation forced desperate consumers to patronise “black market” outlets who sold at exorbitant prices.

ALSO READ: A young man's guide to buying petrol during fuel scarcity

A litre of petrol was sold at N325, while a four-litre gallon was sold at N1,300.

A cross section of motorists told NAN that they now know that marketers were to blame for scarcity of products, saying most of the marketers divert products.

Malam Audu Abba, a resident, said the situation had exposed him to difficulties, noting that he spent more than three hours on queue without getting product.

Ibrahim Bana, a tricycle operator, said that the fuel scarcity had forced them to increase charges.

Bana explained that he was charging N70 as against N50 per drop before the scarcity.

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