The Zonal Operations Controller of the Department of Petroleum Resources, (DPR), Aliyu Halidu, has read the riot act to marketers, saying any marketer caught hoarding fuel would be sanctioned.
Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, Mr. Halidu said that the department has sanctioned 55 marketers for diverting kerosene and illegal increase in the pump price of kerosene and would not hesitate to do the same to any marketer caught diverting fuel.
He also stated that “it is impossible to go to all the filling station if the supply is high, but the lower the number, that is the time when we suspect the marketers divert these products to sell at a higher cost in other locations in the filling station, but the fewer the trucks the easier to monitor at precised filling station”.
He further stated “The more the product the less the tendency to divert the product and the more the product will be in the market for sale.”
Mr. Halidu said that his focus was on the pump delivery to ensure that the consumers get the right quantity for the right price. He has therefore sent a team to inspect sales at the filling stations that are selling fuel to ensure they sell at the right price.
He warned black marketers and persons operating illegal outlets for the sale of gas to desist from such illegal acts as the department was collaborating with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp to raid such illegal outlets.
