The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, on Monday sealed up 50 filling stations for operating without storage and sales licenses.
In Lokoja that the state Coordinator of the authority, Ogbe Godwin, led a task-forcr, which went round the state on routine checks of the operations of the filling stations.
Out of the 50 stations sealed up, five were under dispensing Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, popularly called petrol, to customers including I.A.Muye located at Nataco; Biodun and Associates filling station; Total filling station Felele; Calma global solutions along Ganaja road; NNPC mega station after commissioners quarters, Ganaja road; and Nipco filling station located in Phase I Lokoja.
Mr Godwin explained that the action of the agency was in line with the Federal Government directives that marketers must apply online and obtain their stations license in line with the guidelines as enshrined in the Petroleum Inspectorate Act before dispensing products to the public.
The coordinator, who acknowledged the impact of the fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians, said: “have discovered some sharp practices by petroleum marketers in the state which necessitated our action and immediate sanctioned.
“We are calling on the general public to report to us any petroleum marketer under dispensing fuel across the 21 local governments of Kogi.
“It’s unfortunate that of the reports making the round that we have been compromised from doing our work as regulating agency.
“I want to assure the public that NMDPRA will continue to monitor the sale of premium motor spirit and to ensure that those engaging in sharp practices are brought to book”.
He said that the affected 50 stations must pay fines for the infraction into the federation account as appropriate and also those without license or operating illegally shall also face the full wrath of the law.
While affirming that the sanitation or surveillance is a continuous process, Godwin said: “We will not rest until NMDPRA clamp down on all oil marketers engaging in sharp practices in the state.”
“As a reputable Government agency, we won’t fold our arms and allow some selfish elements to sabotage government effort at ameliorating the sufferings of the masses,” he warned.
NAN
