Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has sealed 13 fuel stations for over-pricing in Akwa Ibom State.
Mr Joy Koro, the Team Leader, Distribution Systems Storage and Retailing Infrastructure of NMDPRA, who said this during a monitoring and surveillance exercise in Uyo on Friday, noted that the authority also sanctioned three others for violating government seal order.
He said that the stations were sealed for selling far above the government approved pump price to members of the public.
Also read: DPR May Shut 50 Illegal Petrol Stations In A’Ibom
“We shut down 13 fuel stations that were selling far above the government regulated pump price while three other fuel stations will be sanctioned for violating government seal order,” he said.
Koro also said that the affected stations would not operate for a stipulated period as would be decided by the regulatory authority.
He warned marketers to desist from selling the products the above government approved pump price and revert the pump to approved price in the state.
“The marketers were dispensing the petroleum products at prices higher than the government approved pump price of N300 per litre and above.
“If you see any marketer selling above the regulated price, definitely that fuel station will be shut. Presently, there are enough petroleum products for marketers to lift to their stations,” Koro said.
The official called on the marketers to revert their pump price to government regulated price in the state to avoid being sealed.
“The marketers know the government approved pump price, if we carry out surveillance and see them selling at regulated price, we will not seal the filling stations,” Koro said.
Straightnews reports that most fuel stations in the state sell the product between N300 per litre and N320 per litre while the product is sold between N350 and N400 per litre.
Moreover, the marketers usually conspire to cause artificial scarcity to hike the cost of the product, according to Straightnews.
(NAN)
