The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Bayelsa has sanctioned 16 filling stations in the state for engaging in various sharp practices.
Mr Asuquo Antai, Operations Controller of DPR in Bayelsa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa on Sunday that the marketers were sanctioned for overpricing, underdispensing and product diversion.
Antai said the affected marketers were made to pay huge fines into government coffers as well as sign an undertaking not to indulge in the practices again.
“The sharp practices we have observed are overpricing – selling above the approved pump price; under- dispensing and thirdly, diversion of products sent to them to other places.
“We have sanctioned quite a lot of retail outlets over sharp practices in the last few days.
“We have actually sanctioned 16 marketers; they were made to pay fines of various sums and sign undertaking,’’ Antai said
He, however, said that because of intensified monitoring and sanctions, the DPR had reduced the diversion by marketers to the barest minimum.
Antai also said that as part of activities put in place to check sharp practices in the state, the DPR had decided to publicise all allocated petrol products from government source.
He said that DPR had decided to publicise all allocated petrol products from government source such as the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company.
The official said the development would enable the DPR to track the product movement.
“If they say between 30,000 and 33,000 litres have been sent to a particular station, we will ascertain if those product quantities actually arrive that station.
“If we ascertain arrival we find out if the marketers selling without hoarding, without under dispensing and selling at the approved price.
“That is what we have been monitoring and are still monitoring; our staff have been divided into two teams and they are all over the place on surveillance.
“We want to appeal to Bayelsa people to keep an eye on all the stations.
“We will announce product arrival on the television and radio to know the quantity of product that arrives at different filling stations.
“So, if the people observe any sharp practices, they should call us to intervene; our numbers are published on DPR website,” Antai said.
The DPR also sanctioned 26 filling stations in Kano State and Jigawa for various offenses.
The DPR Comptroller in charge of the two states, Alhaji Isa Tafida, made the disclosure while speaking with reporters in Kano on Sunday, shortly after monitoring fuel sales at some filling stations.
He said that 10 out of the defaulting stations were caught by DPR officials selling petrol at odd hours of the night.
Tafida warned marketers to desist from selling fuel at odd hours or be ready to face severe sanctions.
The DPR chief stressed that pump price of fuel at retail outlets remained N86.50k per litre, noting that any marketer found selling above the approved price would be punished.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that supply of petroleum products in Kano and Jigawa has improved significantly, following the efforts of stakeholders.
The defaulting stations were fined according to the magnitude of their offences. (NAN)