DPR seals 8 petrol outlets in Enugu over illegal price hike

Chinazor Megbolu |

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Enugu Field Office, has sealed 8 petrol retail outlets in Enugu over illegal price hike of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) as against the approved government pump price.

The Head, Operations, Mr. Afam Azuike on Monday, told pressmen that the sealing of the defaulting petrol outlets was as a result of the public outcry at the weekend that petroleum marketers had arbitrarily increased the PMS pump price.

He also explained that the field office on Monday decided to embark on an aggressive surveillance in Enugu leading to the inspection of 29 petrol stations.

“We discovered that the major marketers sold between N162 and N175. They complained about the cost of the product at the depot as well as the freight charges from Lagos to Enugu.

“We are aware that the government has not increased the price band of PMS, which is on partial deregulation.

“The current price band is cost reflective, taking into cognisance the international cost of crude oil and cost of importation of refined products,” he said.
Azuike pointed out that in the course of the operation, eight petrol stations were sealed, saying that three out of the sealed stations eventually reverted to the government approved price and were reopened.

He maintained the other five that refused to revert to the approved price would remain sealed as well as that sanctions would be meted out in line with the default regulations.
Azuike further noted they discovered that several petrol stations were under lock and key, stating that the field office didn’t know whether they have products or not but the surveillance will still continue.

“We noticed that there was panic buying of PMS in Enugu over the weekend but after this surveillance, there will be free flow of products in the state.

“We want residents of the state to know that there is no fuel scarcity in the state,” Azuike said.

He, however, appealed to motorists not to play into the hands of greedy petroleum marketers and advised them to report anyone selling above the approved government pump price.

According to him; “no one should be compelled to buy PMS above the approved pump price. Our office is always open and if you report defaulters, we will swing into action”.