The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has sealed up five filling stations in the Ilorin metropolis over offences ranging from over-pricing, under-dispensing and abscondment.
Speaking with journalists after the monitoring of over 35 filling stations in the state capital on Tuesday, the Controller Ilorin field office of the DPR, Engineer Sule Yusuf, said that there is no fuel scarcity and plan to increase fuel price in the country.
“We observed that operators seem to be taking laws into their hands by selling over what government has allowed them to sell, especially, for petrol. We’ve been going out to monitor before, and we’ll continue to do that. Today is just special because we’re out to monitor price, quality, quantity and pump efficiency.
“Two teams of the DPR officials went out on Tuesday morning in different directions. We visited about 35 filling stations out of which two absconded and were sealed. They know the consequences. They will only be reopened when they show remorse, pay sanction fees and comply. About three stations were caught over-pricing. We’ve forced them to bring the price down to allowable range and they’ve complied so that they don’t continue cheating the public. For now, there’s no increase in pump price, so they have to comply. If any station is selling above window range of N162 and N165 per litre people should inform the authority. We’ll visit those stations and force them to comply in addition to sanction.
Engineer Yusuf, who advised consumers to watch out so that they are not short-changed, said that they should get value for their money.
“Operators are advised to play the game according to rules to avoid being sanctioned. Yes, they are out to make profits but not at the detriment of majority of the public”, he said.
The affected stations are Matrix oil, Fortunate oil, FORTE OIL, and Savannah Oil and Gas all in Ilorin Metropolis.
Emmanuel Ukoh
