Kaduna: DPR dispenses free fuel at erring filling station

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The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), has sealed a filling station in Kaduna metropolis and dispensed fuel in its underground tank to motorists and motorcyclists free of charge for hoarding the product.

The station, Samrada Nigeria Limited located at Romi Junction in the state capital, was caught hoarding a total of 19, 500 litres of fuel.

The agency during its routine inspection of Petrol Stations across the state discovered that the petrol station was also selling above the N87 per litre pump price only at night.

This is even as the scarcity situation is getting worse day by day. While many filling stations are under lock and key, black marketers have taken over the major streets, determining the price at which to sell the product to motorists.

Presently, a litre of petrol in Kaduna metropolis and environs is sold as high as 200. And where fuel is available at petrol stations, the pumps are adjusted and the queues very long.

DPR officials led by the zonal controller, Usman Ndanusa, swooped on this particular station following a tip-off from concerned citizens that the management of the station was hoarding the scarce product.

They opened up the station’s stock and uncovered 19,300 litres of fuel while the station had allegedly told distraught buyers that it had exhausted the stock.

However, it was a cheering news for motorists and other members of the public who scrambled to have their tanks filled as soon as the DPR boss instructed that the fuel be sold free of charge in line with minister of Petroluem’s directive.

The manager of the filling station complained of not getting the product from the depot at government approved price, hence they have to adjust their retail prices. The DPR officials also ordered another filling station along Romi road to reverse to the N87 pump price as against the N135 it was selling to customers when the officials arrived.

The owner of the filling station was fined the sum of N100, 000 for selling above pump price.

The controller explained that the punitive measure would serve as deterrent to other hoarders that it was no longer business as usual. He said the agency was poised to ensure that the commodity was properly distributed among commuters.

While expressing hope that the scarcity of petrol across the state would soon disappear due to the increase in daily supply from Lagos, the Controller however warned marketers to stop hoarding the product or face severe sanction if they are caught.

Source: The Nation