Minister tells officials to sell fuel from offending fuel stations for free

The Ministry of Petroleum Resources has instructed the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to distribute petrol of any filling stations involved in hoarding to customers free of charge.

Dr Ibe Kachikwu, the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, announced this during his tour and monitoring of fuel stations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) .

He said that the decision became necessary given the attitude of some filling stations to hoard fuel to the detriment of the masses.

"I have instructed DPR as they proceed on monitoring that any station that has the product and they are hoarding, they should sell all the products for free to customers."

He noted that marketers who involved in sharp practices would also face heavy sanction.

"We are going to impose very serious penalty to the fuel station. So selling their products is not the answer, it is penalising them when they do this.

"I hope the message goes out loud and clear. I urge Nigerians to be patient, stop panic buying; there is product for everybody." he said.

Kachikwu also directed a 24-hour service operation by fuel stations, to serve Nigerians better.

"I am instructing NNPC retail stations to stay open for 24 hours; the police will provide protection for them.

" Major fuel stations should move in and supply products and take responsibility for their stations just like we are taking responsibility for our own retail stations."

He said the current fuel queues playing out in the country could also be attributed to panic buying, noting that NNPC had made available adequate petrol to serve Nigerians.