Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), on Thursday sealed 15 filling stations and two Gas plants for what it described as non compliance to global best practices.
The Controller of Operations, Mr Ademola Makinde, made this known after a routine surveillance.
He added that the essence of the exercise was to galvanise Nigerians against possible exploitation by corrupt operators of filling stations and gas plants.
Makinde also explained that parts of the mandate of DPR included routine check for product hoarding and diversion, and selling petroleum products above the approved pump price.
According to him, 29 filling stations were visited during the exercise, adding that those filing and gas stations that were sealed erred by shortchanging their customers and also operating without valid licence.
“Today, we visited 29 filling stations, 15 were sealed for underdispensing, operating without a valid licence and seven were not in use.
“Additionally, two gas plants were sealed for offences varying from operating without a valid license, installation and upgrade and non-compliance to safety standards.
“And one good thing about DPR rules is that there are penalties if you flout them.
“If you are underdispensing to a marginal level, we may require you to go and reset your pump and which we will inspect for possible reopening.
“But if there are critical infractions, penalties ranges from N100, 000 to N1 million, N1 million if by chance any marketer tampered with the DPR official seal”, he said.
Speaking on the relationship between the agency and petroleum marketers, and seeming wrong perception of hostility, Makinde reacted this way: “To the marketers, I have to emphasise this, we are not enemies but rather we are all partners working for the same goal.
“One of the mandate of DPR is to sustain marketers to grow their businesses, but that can only be done if they cooperate and do not cut corners and sidetrack DPR”.
He implored residents not to hesitate in exposing any fraudulent activity by petroleum marketers as he pledged that the exercise would be sustained to get the sector rid of any malpractice.
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