Mkpoikana Udoma
13 March 2018, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt — As a way of restoring sanity to the system, the Department Petroleum Resources, DPR, has sealed off seven filling stations in Rivers State for their alleged involvement in various offences.
This comes even as fuel shortages persist in the state with most fillings stations still selling PMS at N190 per litre and several others remain under lock due to lack of products to dispense.
The seven filling stations sealed off by DPR are Abesco along Eastern By-Pass, Forte Oil in Ogbunabali, Sobaz on Ikwere Road and Mobil at Waterlines Junction
Others are PatCoin at Mgbuogba, Conoil on NTA Road, and Total filling station at Rumuokwuta, all within the Port Harcourt metropolis.
The offence by these filling stations that led to their closure by DPR includes, under-dispensing, over pricing, diversion and hoarding of Premium Motor Spirit, among others.
DPR’s Head of Downstream Monitoring and Regulation, Port Harcourt Zone, Mr, Enwuchola Emmanuel said DPR had sealed the fillings stations for selling above the approved government pump price of N145 per litre, and possible diversion of products.
Emmanuel maintained that the regulatory body would continue to live up to its responsibility and to clamp down on erring marketers to ensure that things are done right in the petroleum sector.
“We have closed seven filling stations because they are selling above the government approved pump price. They will pay a fine before their premises will be reopened,” he emphasised.
