NMDPRA seals 13 fuel stations in A’Ibom

Ini Billie, Uyo

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has sealed 13 fuel stations in Akwa Ibom State for selling the product above tolerable prices.

It was observed tha5 petrol is currently sold between N300 and N320 per litre across the state as marketers and fuel station owners have created artificial scarcity of the product.

Speaking on Friday in Uyo during the monitoring and surveillance exercise, the Team Lead, Distribution Systems Storage and Retailing Infrastructure, Mr Joy Koro explained that the 13 fuel stations were sealed for selling far above government approved pump price to members of the public.

“We shut down 13 filling stations that were selling far above the government-regulated pump price,” he said.

Koro who said the fuel stations would not operate for a stipulated period in the state mentioned that three filling stations that violated the government seal order would be sanctioned accordingly.

He warned marketers to desist from selling the products above government-approved pump price and revert to the government-regulated price to avoid the sealing of their stations.

“The marketers were dispensing the petroleum products at prices higher than government approved pump price of N300 per litre and above.

“If you see any marketer selling above the regulated price, definitely that filling station will be shut down.

Presently, there are enough petroleum products for marketers to lift to their stations.”The marketers know the government-approved pump price, if we carry out surveillance and we see them selling at a regulated price, we will not seal the filling station,” he stated.