24 November 2011, Sweetcrude, Kaduna – The Department of the Petroleum Resources (DPR), the Nigeriuan oil industry watchdog, has warned Nigeria’s fuel marketers against tampering with fuel pump meters and selling petroleum products above pump prices.
The agency says it would move decisively to sanction culpable marketers.
Alhaji Mustapha Falalu Jahun, DPR’s Zonal Operations Controller, issued the warning in his address Wednesday at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the DPR and the Petroleum Products Marketers in Kaduna.
Jahun said:”Some markets have continued to temper with their dispensing pumps to cheat unsuspecting customers in spite of our consistent warnings against such act. This unwholesome act must stop as we may impose more severe sanctions.”
He added that another disturbing situation was the selling of petroleum products above government approved pump prices, stressing that DPR would not hesitate in punishing erring marketers.
In his assessment of the petroleum products marketing activities, Jahun identified the building of petrol stations without approval, fake licences and diversion of petroleum products as part of the challenges.
He identified other challenges as the peddling of domestic kerosine permits and the lack of proper safety awareness, adding that the practice was common among marketers operating at remote locations.
Calling on retailers of lubricants to obtain licence from the DPR after all requirements were met, he warned that the provision of the petroleum laws and regulations forbid the storage of large volume of lubricants in retail outlets.
“Also, the sale of lubricants from a giant container is no longer allowed. Lubricants are now to be properly packaged, branded and labelled with products production and disposal details,” he explained.
