DPR: four petrol stations under lock in Abia

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR)in Abia state has sealed off four petrol stations in the state for various offences.

The offences ranged from selling fuel above the government approved pump price of N97 per litre, operating without license and under delivery of products.

Two of the petrol stations were closed in Aba and two in Umuahia.

The two filling stations sealed closed in Umuahia belongs to Masters Energy. The one located on Akanu Ibiam Avenue, Umuahia was sealed for operating without license and under delivery of products while the another branch on Aba Road, Umahia, was shut down for operating without license.

In Aba, Universal Oil on Aba-Owerri Road was sealed for selling fuel above N97 per litre and under delivery of products to customers while AP filling station also on Aba-Owerri road was partially sealed as one pump was isolated for under delivery of gas.

At Charles Ben Moore filling station at Ubakala, Umuahia, where fuel was sold for N100, the manager, one David Erugo was ordered to revert to the N97 pump price or risked having the place closed down. He complied immediately.



Erugo however defended his high price, claiming his station bought the product from major independent marketers at higher price as the filling station is yet to get delivery from the NNPC depot.

Commenting on the action, the operational controller of DPR, Aba office, Engr. Patrick Orji, regretted that some marketers of petroleum products still engaged in acts of sabotage against the federal government by shortchanging their customers.

Orji vowed that DPR would no longer fold its arms and watch oil marketers perpetrate all forms of anomalies in the form of doing business, and warned that government guidelines as it concerns the sale of petroleum products must be implemented to the later.

He warned those whose filling stations were sealed not to re-open, until DPR verifies the pumps and sees that they are functioning accurately.