Consumer Protection: DPR seals off 10 filling stations for selling fuel above official price in Taraba

*The Department of Petroleum Resources has explained it shut 10 filling stations to ensure that they complied with the Nigerian Government-approved official pump price of N162 and N165 per litre of petrol

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In an attempt to make the non-compliant oil dealers comply with the industry regulators’ guidelines, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Monday, March 22 disclosed that it shut 10 filling stations for selling petroleum products above the official price in Jalingo, Taraba State capital.

Mr. Jeremiah Mashat, Controller of Taraba Field Operation’s Office, explained that the decisive action against the culprits was taken to ensure that the filling stations complied with the government-approved price henceforth, agency report said.

The DPR Controller said that Marketers must adhere to all regulations governing the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.

We are out to ensure that those who use petroleum products in the state are not shortchanged, he stated.

According to him, all marketers must comply with the official price of N162 and N165 per litre.

Mashat was quoted to have said: “We were able to seal ten filling stations in Jalingo. Before now, we sent out a team that monitored the sale of the product and as well warmed them not to sell above government approved price.

“To our dismay, some of the marketers went ahead and violated the order, and that is why we had no option but to sanction them accordingly.

“They must pay fine for violating our rules and that will serve as a deterrent to many other potential violators.”

Reacting to the development, Alhaji Lukman Mohammed, Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Taraba State Chapter, however, said the clampdown was unnecessary due to the recent increase in depot charges.

The union would hold a meeting with the DPR and discuss how to resolve the impasse, noted Alhaji Mohammed.