DPR Cautions Filling Stations against Cheating

Amby Uneze

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Eastern zone has fined one filling station appropriately in Owerri metropolis, capital of Imo State for under dispensing premium motor spirit (PMS). Five others were cautioned for selling above government regulated pump price of N145 per litre.

The renewed aggressive surveillance which was in response to a directive from the Director of DPR to all Zonal Operation Controllers was to checkmate product diversion and ensure the PMS is sold at government regulated price of N145 per litre.

Reviewing the activities of the surveillance which was carried out last week, the Zonal Controller, Peter Ijih said that the exercise took the team to around Owerri and its environs, where they inspected the ten filling stations that received PMS supplies from Aba depot to ensure that the loaded products were delivered at the appropriate stations and whether the products were also sold at the government regulated price.

“We also visited other stations which did not receive products from Aba depot, and where products were available we enforced the stations to sell the products at government regulated price. And in doing this, we found one station that engaged in under dispensing which was subsequently sealed and fined appropriately, while five stations were enforced to sell at government regulated price”, he said.

The Zonal Controller used the opportunity to advice marketers to desist from any form of hoarding or diversion of product, and to ensure those products available are sold to motorists at appropriate government rate. He also noted that the exercise was going to be a continuous one while urging the public to report to DPR any suspected irregularities and diversion.