Fuel Scarcity Crisis: DPR Seals 36 Petrol Stations In Akwa Ibom

A filling station being sealed by DPR

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Eket Field Office, Akwa Ibom, said on Sunday it sealed 36 petrol stations in the state last week.

The Operations Controller of DPR in the state, Tamunoiminabo Kingsley-Sundaye, made the disclosure in an interview in Eket with the News Agency of Nigeria.

He said the petrol stations were sealed in Eket, Abak, Uyo, Etinan, Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin, and Ukanafun Local Government areas of the state for selling fuel above the approved pump price of N145 per litre, violating DPR seal order and operating illegal petrol stations.

“We sealed some petrol stations for selling fuel between N180 and 190 per litre. What pained me most was that some stations were also selling fuel with DPR seals placed on them.

“Others did not have DPR documentations or licences and were operating illegally in the state,” Mr. Kingsley-Sundaye said.

“Violation of DPR seal order attracts a penalty of N1million,” he added.

He said further that those that operated illegal filling stations would be handed over to the law enforcement agency for prosecution.

Mr. Kingsley-Sundaye said that the department had begun intensive surveillance to check illegal practices by some petroleum marketers in the state and advised the marketers in the state not to engage in any illicit act in the downstream sector.

He said, “We will ensure that petroleum products given to marketers are sold to the public at the government regulated prices.”

He therefore, called on the members of the public to provide useful information to the department in order to ensure the full implementation of federal government’s pricing policy.