Odahiekwu Ogunde, Yenagoa
Department of Petroleum Resources has sealed off four filling stations in Bayelsa State for selling fuel above N165 per liter, government regulated price, and under-dispensing the product to customers.
The filling stations, B.M. Links Limited, Tamic Nigeria Limited, Ereboter Oil and Maccary Petroleum Nigeria Limited were sealed during a routine surveillance of petroleum retailing outlets in Yenagoa, the state capital and its environs.
Speaking to newsmen after the inspection, the Operations Controller, DPR, Yenagoa Field Office, Mr Ogbe Nicholas, said it was observed that some retailers were selling within range while others were selling above pump price and under-dispensing the product by adjusting their meters.
He warned the retailers and marketers of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol to shun sharp practices capable of shortchanging consumers of the product in the state.
According to him: “Those who were under-dispensing, we sealed them off. At this juncture, we advise them to go and pay the necessary fines. There is a fine code that we have. When we see the evidence of payments of those penalties, we will go and unseal them.
“The payments are expected to be made to the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) Special Account.”
On the price of petrol, Nicholas affirmed that Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) which is responsible for pricing of PMS was yet to increase fuel, urging sellers to stick to the current price of between N162 and N165 per litre.
He advised fuel dealers to always visit DPR for necessary advice on rules and regulations guiding the business of petroleum resources.The DPR boss, however, commended the NNPC mega filling station and some major oil dealers in the state for adhering to the pump price, non-adjustment of the PMS meter and asked others to follow their examples.