Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has sanctioned an NNPC mega station located along Asa-Dam road in Ilorin, Kwara state caught in the fraudulent act of meter adjustment.
New Operations Controller, Ilorin field office of DPR, Mr. Salvation Philip who disclosed the development explained: “We sealed the mega station over metres re-adjustment, but when we discovered that the station is the major supplier of fuel in the city we lifted the sanction and forced them to adjust the meter to the normal sphere.
“But we are going to fine the station for that action and I have already written a letter to the station to that effect. The station will pay fine for under dispensing and selling in cans. I want to use the Mega station to serve as deterrent to other stations because there shall be no sacred cows in the discharge of their duties’’.
Philip added that henceforth, petroleum products must be taken to the depot for quality recertification, documentation and monitoring before it is taken to filling stations. He also stressed that there would be strict monitoring by the department to check activities of black-marketers. “We are more concerned about ensuring that the quantity of fuel supply to the state is judiciously distributed to the various stations. Our monitoring strategies have reduced the queues in filling stations and discouraged the sale of the petrol products in jerricans,” he said.
He explained that the department would collaborate with all agencies involved in ensuring that marketers of petrol comply with the laid down rules and regulations.
By Olisemeka Obeche