DPR seals 7 petrol stations, orders marketer to dispense fuel free

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Warri Zonal Office, on Saturday sealed seven petrol stations for various offences such as hoarding, under-dispensing and over pricing.

Mr Jerry Udegbunam, Head, Downstream Operations, DPR, Warri Zone, led the surveillance team across Warri and environs.

He told newsmen that one of the petrol stations sealed was in Warri and six in Sapele as part of the organisation’s resolution to sanitse the downstream sector of sharp practices.

The DPR also compelled SUDOZ Petrol Station to dispense fuel to motorists and residents of Okere community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta, “free of charge.”

Udegbunam said that the order was given following series of allegations that the Station dispensed petrol above the government regulated pump price of N86.50 per litre.

“We ordered the station manager to dispense petrol to the people free of charge because he has been selling for N120 per litre, which is above the Federal Government regulated pump price of N86.50,’’ he said.

The angry station manager, who refused to disclose his name to journalists, could not resist the directive since the DPR officials were accompanied by heavily armed mobile policemen detailed to enforce the order.

Some of the motorists, who benefited from the free fuel, commended the DPR for the bold step, and urged them to replicate same in other erring filling stations.

NAN reports that within a short period of the directive, cars, tricycles, and people with various containers besieged the station in the struggle for the product.

At IWUSAR Petrol Nig. Ltd, in Uvwie Local Government Area, a truck driver was apprehended for failing to provide the weigh bill of the petroleum product he offloaded at the Station.

“The driver could not provide the weigh bill, the calibration chart and he could not identify the depot where he lifted the product.

“So the suspect will remain at the police custody until he is able to provide answers to the above questions.

“It is going to be a continuous exercise until the people begin to obey government directives,’’ Udegbunam said.

NAN recalled that more than 50 petrol stations have been sealed by the DPR in Delta in the last two weeks for various offences including diversion, over pricing, hoarding and under-dispensing. (NAN)