DPR shuts 39 filling stations in Benue, Nasarawa

MAKURDI—The Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, has sealed off 39 filling stations in parts of Benue and Nasarawa states for alleged over-pricing and under-dispensing of petroleum products to unsuspecting members of the public.

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By Peter Duru

MAKURDI—The Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, has sealed off 39 filling stations in parts of Benue and Nasarawa states for alleged over-pricing and under-dispensing of petroleum products to unsuspecting members of the public.

The DPR Operations Controller, Makurdi Field Office, Mr. Isa Abdullahi, who also superintends over Nasarawa state, made this known at the weekend in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

Abdullahi, who led the operation, listed some of the affected filling stations to include AY Ashafa, Makurdi, Meloch Oil and Gas, Becostreams Petroleum, David Ogah Oil and Gas all in Otukpo and MRS Keffi, TAEN Oil Mararaba and Lunkman in Lafia, among others.

He said: “Of the total number of 39 sealed stations, 16 were shut in parts of Benue, while 23 others were sealed in Nasarawa State for under-dispensing and over-pricing of petroleum products.

“Though owners of some of the effected stations have paid into the coffers of government, the stipulated penalty fee of N100,000 so as to have their stations reopened but we have also cautioned that if they flout our rules again, we will be forced to mete out stiffer penalties on them.

“As I speak with you, our officials are still on the field on surveillance to ensure that every station in Benue and Nasarawa states which is our jurisdiction, complied with government’s directive that petroleum products should be sold at the approved pump price.”

Abdullahi disclosed that he had been holding series of meetings with product dealers in both states where he made it clear to marketers that failure to comply with the directives of government would be mete with stiff penalties as provided by the law.”

“They are complaining that I am too hard on them but they fail to realize that we have a mandate and responsibility to ensure that products are sold to Nigerians at the approved prices in all parts of both states and anything to the contrary will be punished accordingly,” he said.

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