PR shuts 114 filling stations in Oyo, Osun, Jos

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The Department of Petroleum Resources has sealed 114 filling stations in Oyo, Osun and Plateau states for hoarding petrol and selling above the official pump price of N87 per litre.

While the DPR shut 90 filling stations in Oyo and Osun states, it closed 24 in Plateau.

The agency also arrested some filling station owners in Ilesa and Ife areas of Osun State, while its inspection team ordered some filling stations to sell kerosene and petrol at the official prices.

Two filling stations allegedly owned by a former governor of Oyo State were among those sealed along the Ogbomosho-Ilorin Road on Thursday for selling the product above the pump price.

In Isare and Ilesa area of Osun State, one of our correspondents learnt that some DPR officials were assaulted by suspected hoodlums who attempted to stop the team from sealing a filling station.

The Controller of Oyo and Osun states field offices of the DPR, Olakunle Ogunlana, who spoke through the Deputy Manager (Operations), Mr. Sadiq Ibrahim, said the department would continue the hunt for fraudsters among the marketers.

He said, “What we are doing is to ensure that people do what is right. Operators and fuel marketers must operate according to government stipulated directives.”

In Plateau State, the DPR Operations Controller, Mr. Caesar Douglas, said, “Our outing today is so revealing. There are some marketers doing illegal business with the PMS; they have been cheating innocent Nigerians and we have no option than to seal their stations.

“We have sealed a total of 24 filling stations in Plateau State of which there are 16 licensed marketers and seven unlicenced ones. They will be penalised for hoarding fuel, selling above the approved price, diversion of their allocations and operating without licences.

“We sealed 11 stations for selling above the approved price; we sealed five for diversion of fuel; seven for selling without licence and one for hoarding fuel. All these various offences go with penalties. For those selling above the approved price, their stations will be sealed for a month and the owners will pay a fine of N100,000. For those caught hoarding the product, we considered that as economic sabotage and the offenders will pay a fine of N2m and their stations will be sealed for two months.”

Meanwhile, the DPR confirmed on Friday that eight filling stations sealed in Minna for similar offences had paid a fine of N100,000 each. The DPR Controller in the state, Mr. Abdullahi Jankara, said, “Some filling stations in the state capital are not selling petroleum products at the approved prices, while those which claim to be selling at the approved prices have adjusted their pumps.

“Independent marketers do what they like, but the DPR will not allow it. If you are not ready to do business in line with the guidelines, leave and go into another business. The era of illegality is gone.”

He said Hajara Global, First El-Shabab, Muhabat Tunga, Garima, Unibros, AUG and Mubashar Investment were shut for selling petrol at N110 per litre, while a Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation retail affiliate was sealed for non-functional safety mechanism.

Jankara explained that the first seven stations were sealed for price hike and the NNPC outlet was closed because of safety issues.

Source: Punch