The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on Monday said it had discovered 87 filling stations operating without its approval in the last six months.

Its Director, Mr Modecai Ladan, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on the sideline of the ongoing 17th biennial conference on Health, Safety and Environment organised by DPR.

He said that the agency had already clamped down on the illegal filling stations.

The DPR boss said that the agency was collaborating with other agencies and relevant stakeholders in nipping the problem in the bud.

He urged potential filling stations owners to be law abiding and adhere strictly to rules governing registration of filling stations.

Ladan also said it was untrue that the agency had no record of crude oil produced by the country, saying the new DPR was on top of the situation.

He said that the theme of the conference reflected the agency’s commitment to harmonising valuable recommendations to the government.

“It is noteworthy that the DPR has leveraged on the principles and suggestions presented by delegates in previous editions of this conference,’’ he said.