The Kaduna zonal office of the Department of Petroleum Resources on Tuesday sealed 53 filling stations for various offences ranging from hoarding and diversion to selling petrol above approved pump prices in the state. Among the sealed filing stations was a filing station that indulged in smuggling petrol to neighbouring countries of Niger and Chad Republic.
The DPR Zonal Controller of Operations, Alhaji Isa Tafida, stated this after monitoring filling stations in Kaduna metropolis and its environs on Tuesday. Tafida, also told journalists that the agency also sealed four gas plants for offences such as operating without valid licence, installation and upgrading with approval and non-compliance, adding that two of the gas plants were found operating illegally in the state capital.
Tafida said the agency visited 354 filing stations between the month of July and August and that out of these figures 53 fell short of the required standards as stipulated by the agency’s statutory mandate. According to him, 11 out of the 53 filing stations were sealed for under-delivery, one for over -delivery while 40 were sealed for non – compliance and adherence to safety regulations.
The DPR boss added that one of the filling stations was sealed for diversion of fuel to neighbouring countries. He also threatened to revoke the licence of the station and warned the station to desist from using its operational licence for further diversion of petroleum products.
He said, “The Department of Petroleum Resources is saddled with the responsibility of monitoring and supervising the activities of oil and gas industry across the country.” “In furtherance of this statutory mandate, the Kaduna Zonal Office of the DPR has intensified its operation within the month of July/August aimed at checking product hoarding and diversion, selling above regulated products above the approved pump prices, under dispensing petroleum products, stations operating without valid licence or expired licence as well as operating under unsafe condition and non – adherence to minimum safety standards.
“In the month of July and now, a total of 354 petrol stations were visited and were found selling products below or at the approved pump prices of N143 to N145 per litre while 19 gas refilling plants were also visited.” Punch
