The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) may shut 50 illegal petrol filling stations in Akwa Ibom State.
Mr. Tamunoiminabo Kingsley-Sundaye, the Operations Controller of DPR in Akwa Ibom told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Eket Monday.
He explained that the illegal stations refused to obtain Federal Government licences nor follow due process in their construction.
The Operation Controller added that the stations were built without appropriate approval by the department in the state.
“There are 50 illegal petrol filling stations in the state. We have come to a point in this country where people have decided to do things that are wrong.
“When I resume a year ago, we observed that there are some fuel stations that are built without appropriate approvals from the department,” he said.
He said that when building filling stations, there are things that are considered such as engineering design, safety, earth considerations and social economy of the area.
Kingsley-Sundaye condemned marketers that build petrol filling stations that share boundaries with markets, schools, hospitals, saying that in event of fire disiaster, such stations could affect the economy of the area.
He warned marketers who site filling stations before coming to DPR for consideration to desist from it.
He said that the department had sensitised the marketers who are involved to come to DPR office for reassessment and appropriate documentation.
“We have compiled those names and send them to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to take appropriate actions,” he said.
Kingsley-Sundaye said that the department was working with law enforcement agencies and the state government to dismantle illegal filling stations in the state.
“We will work with the state government to dismantle illegal filling stations in the state and the department was working towards getting rid of those stations,” the Operation Controller said.
He noted that owners of such stations have violated the Petroleum Act of 1969 which says that nobody can sell or store petroleum product in Nigeria without Federal Government licence.
