DPR asks Niger State to extend operational deadline to prevent queues

Chinazor Megbolu |

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has sought the approval of the Niger State Government to extend the approval of daily operational deadline given petroleum products marketers in the State.

The appeal made on Friday according to DPR was to enable marketers sell fuel to motorists in the State.

The Operations Controller, DPR, Niger State Jankara said, “We have written to the Niger state government to increase the time allowed by motorists and other people to purchase fuel daily.

“The reason is to enable the DPR to monitor activities at the petrol stations effectively and avoid overcrowding to prevent Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)”.

He disclosed that marketers in the State were only allowed to sell products to motorists and other people between the hours of 7am and 10am daily.

Jankara also hinted that two weeks into the state government’s movement restriction order, the DPR on reviewing its operations, discovered the need to seek extension of the approved three hours given to petroleum marketers to operate.

“We have been going out to monitor filling stations and we found out that people crowd the various filling stations due to the short time given to the petroleum marketers to operate daily,” Jankara said.

He noted further that the major oil marketers in state capital, Minna had complied with the Federal Government’s order for reduction of pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to between N125 and N123.50k against the old prices of between N145 and N143 per litre.

“The major oil marketers in Minna have complied with the directive, except for two marketers who we sanctioned and they have since corrected their mistake,” he said.

He, however, pointed out that the agency would soon come up with Smart Inspection through the aid of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) towards monitoring the activities of oil marketers across the country.

Editing by ‘Biodun Soyele