NAN – The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), on Tuesday sealed up seven petroleum stations in Birnin Kebbi for engaging in sharp practices.
Alhaji Usman Moriki, DPR Field Controller in charge of Sokoto and Kebbi States, said their operators sold petrol above the official pump price of premium motor spirit.
“The petrol stations were engaged in short changing customers through manipulation of the meters and selling products above the approved government price of N87 per litre.
“We discovered that some of the stations were selling the commodity at between N100 and N105 against the official rate of N87 per litre.’’
Moriki said the department will not relent in ensuring strict compliance with government approved price of petroleum products.
“The department will not relent in sealing off and sanctioning stations of independent marketers who violate the rules of dispensing petrol at the official rate.
“We also discovered that most of the stations refused to install safety equipment as fire extinguishers and buckets filled with sand in their filling stations. Those affected will pay N100,000 fine each before we allow them to operate’’, he stressed.
He commended operators of filling stations dispensing fuel at official rates.
Mr Joshua Alaba, a motorist, commended the department for enforcing the official pump price of petrol, stressing that it was a sign of the much needed change from the old ways of doing things.
He called on the department to establish an office in Kebbi for the sake of proximity and constant monitoring of the activities of the independent marketers.
An independent marketer, whose station was sealed off, said incognito that depots sell the commodity to them at unofficial rate hence the increase in the price.
The marketer called on government to correct the anomaly in procurement and transportation of the commodity.
