Mkpoikana Udoma
20 February 2018, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – The Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, has sealed six filling stations in Rivers State over sharp practices.
The stations sealed for various offences ranging from under-dispensing of products, over pricing, hoard and alleged diversion of products, are Forte Oil at Moscow Road, Conoil in Amadi-Ama Roundabout, MRS at Mile Three, Oando at Mile Three, and Mobil Station in Aba Road, all in Port Harcourt metropolis.
Speaking to newsmen during the surveillance exercise on filling stations in the state, DPR Head of Downstream, Port Harcourt Zone, Mr. Enwuchola Emmanuel, expressed displeasure over the high rate of sharp practices at the stations.
Emmanuel said the persistent queues at petrol stations witnessed in the country was as a result of the illegal activities of some major marketers.
He said the enforcement team of DPR had to embark on the surveillance of filling stations in the state based on information that some products which were loaded at the depot on Saturday, have been diverted.
According to him, “We visited 42 filling stations today based on our mandate, we met 17 selling and we sealed six for various offences.
“Some of the pump attendants in the stations saw us and ran away because of what they were doing.
“Our concern is that they should sell at the official rate and their pump should be accurate. If the marketers do the right thing, queues at the stations will vanish.”
The Depart of Petroleum Resources further warned product marketers in the country to desist from all forms of corrupt practices, and vowed that it would not rest until sanity was restored in the sector.
