…seals 18 filling stations
By Ummi Ismaeel, Minna
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Niger State has again warned dealers in petroleum products against exploiting unsuspecting Nigerans by adjusting their metres below standards, hoarding of comodity and selling above government approved pump price.
Stressing that many dealers still engage in sharp practices at the detriment of unsuspecting citizens, the DPR warned that it would not hesitate to deal with defaulters for daring to sell above government official rate.
Already, there are queue in some filling stations within Minna metropolis and its environs while it has become business as usual for some blackmarketers, who procure the commodity from filling stations and resell at cut-throat rate to consumers,
Our correspondent however gathered that some customers were skeptical about the NNPC mega station along Nnamdi-Azikiwe way, western by-pass, Minna when rumours about the quality of the products dispensed therein.
Though our correspondent could not confirm from the management of the station as at the time of this report, but feelers had it that some motorists complained that their cars developed engine fault after fueling their car at the NNPC.
Meanwhile, the Operations Controller Minna Field Office, Abdullahi Isah Jankara, has warned dealers against any form of sharp practices, adding that his men were always on the ground to check the excesses of ‘fraudulent dealers’ who engage in selling above government approved rate.
Jankara said at the DPR state headquarters at Dutsen Kura-Gwari, along Nnamdi-Azikiwe way, western by-pass, Minna that so far 18 filling stations spread across parts of the state had been sealed for engaging in various forms of sharp practices.
According to the DPR Operation’s Controller, “So far we have sealed 18 filling stations, most of them in Minna, the state capital, some in Kontagora, Teggina and we are still monitoring some others closely and anyone caught will be penalized to serve deterrent to others”.
Jankara, who advised motorists and customers not to allow themselves to be short-changed by greedy dealers, reminded all that the official rate remains between N162 and N165 per litre, warned those selling above N165 to stop forthwith or face the full wrath of the law if caught.
He said, “We have been going round since some people engaged in this sharp practices causing artificial scarcity and crisis we are facing now, but with the official measuring can we go about to measure what they sell to the public and any station that defaults, we seal it”.