23rd May, 2014
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on Friday uncovered and sealed an illegal engine oil manufacturing factory in Usubu village, near Kontagora in Niger.
A team of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel, led by ASP Ademola Oyasola, arrested three persons from the factory; the manager, Phillip Ambi, Sales Representative, Emeka Anatusi, and Secretary, Mrs Grace Asilonu.
Oyasola told journalists that the suspects would be taken to NSCDC headquarters in Abuja and handed over to the legal unit for prosecution.
A DPR team, led by its Zonal Public Relations Officer, Muhammed Saidu, accompanied by the NSCDC officers, discovered the factory during a routine inspection and monitoring in the state.
He explained that before anybody could engage in petroleum product business in Nigeria such person must be licensed by DPR in accordance with the Petroleum Industry Law.
According to DPR’s spokesman, the company is endangering the lives of the women and children at the factory by exposing them to dangerous chemicals without protection.
Saidu said that the products of the company could not have met the standard since it was operating illegally.
NAN recalls that the DPR team had on Thursday sealed three filling stations in the state for selling petrol above the approved pump price of N97 per litre.
The filling stations are Jafaru Investment and Logistics Limited, Diko Junction, Suleja, AA Rano Nigeria Limited and Medengen Petroleum Company Nigeria Limited both on Lagos Road, Kontagora, Niger.