DPR seals 41 filling stations, adjusts 21 pumps

The Department of Petroleum Resources, Eket, Akwa Ibom, said it sealed 41 filling stations for selling petrol above the government approved N87 pump price per litre in the state.

Mr Asuquo Antai, DPR’s Controller, Operations, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Eket, headquarters of Eket Local Government Area of the state.

Antai said the department also forced 21 filling stations to correct their adjusted pumps that were under-dispensing the product or selling for N100 per litre.

He also said that some filling stations were sealed for operating without the DPR licences, diversion of fuel in the state and selling DPK above government approved pump price.

According to him, out of 76 filling stations visited, 21 agreed to immediately correct their meters from N100 per litre to N87 per litre under DPR supervision.

"About 14 filling stations were selling appropriately at N87 per litre while 41 stations were sealed for selling above the government approved pump price of N87 per litre,’’ Antai said.

He said that those sealed included Honeywell, Eubinis Petroleum, Ecoba Nigeria Limited, E. Okon, Union Oil and Gas limited, Animac Multi-Service Limited and Ezikco Venture Limited.

He said that some defaulters had already paid fines of N100,000 to the department in addition to writing a letter of undertaking that they would not default again.

"Most of them have come to make the payments and they have also corrected their pump prices to reflect the government approved pump price; we have allowed them to sell appropriately,’’ he said.

The controller said the stations would be shut down for a period of three months if they reverted to the adjusted pump.

Antai assured that the DPR would ensure that all retail outlets in the country sold products at the approved government price.

He said that the department had sanitised depots in its area of their operations.

"The excuses they gave in the past that they could not get the product from the depots at the approved government price of N77.66 is no longer tenable because we have also sanitised the depots.

"We are ensuring that the products at the depots are lifted at the approved government ex-depot price of N77.66 per litre.

"Some outlets wait and buy from their colleagues who buy from the depots and in turn sell to them above the approved price.

"We will no longer tolerate any marketer selling above government price; we are checking the depots and outlets to monitor their transactions.

"Government will not take anything less; it will no longer be business as usual,’’ he warned.

He urged the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in the state to ensure compliance by its members.

"There is no reason for members of IPMAN to do otherwise; any dealer that contravenes the law of the land will face the wrath,’’ Antai said.