20th August, 2015
MADUABUCHI NMERIBEH/Kano
Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, in Kano, northwest Nigeria, has clamped down on 45 filling stations for selling petroleum products above regulated pump prices, mutilation of dispensing pump, diversion, hoarding and under delivery of petroleum products, especially, the Petroleum Motor Spirit, PMS.
DPR Zonal Operation Comptroller in-charge of Kano and Jigawa, Alhaji Isah Tafida warned those smuggling PMS from Niger Republic and other neighbouring countries to desist from such criminal act, saying that DPR will not hesitate to hand them over to security agencies for proper prosecution if caught.
The DPR Operation Comptroller who carried journalists along in the surveillance exercise conducted on Thursday stated that out of the 45 filling stations found wanting, 23 sold PMS above approved pump price, four were closed down for hoarding and five were shut down for diversion.
He added that during the operation covering Kano municipal and its environs, 12 filling stations were sealed for using faulty pumps.
He said the 36 filling stations sealed up will pay the sum of N100, 000 each with a written agreement that such offence will not be committed again.
He further added that any filling station found guilty for the second time will be closed down for three months, adding that penalty for diversion of PMS attract a fine of N200 per litre.
Alhaji Tafida noted that the exercise is ongoing in line with the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to sanitize the petroleum industry.
He named the filling stations sealed up by DPR in Kano to include Gwagwarwa Investment Co. Ltd, Pure Oil and Gas LTD, Himma Merchants LTD, Musbahu Garba Nig. LTD, AY Suleiman LTD, Con Oil, Insibal, AS Marmaro, BBSY General Merchants, Nazzalco Enterprises LTD, A.U.I Multi Purpose, AB Radda Petroleum LTD.
Others are ABY Petroleum Nigeria LTD, Alhaji Shehu Yaro Haske Nigeria LTD, Naadade Petroleum LTD, A.A. Babura and Sons Nigeria LTD, Afdin Petroleum Nigeria LTD, Idris Macauley, Nipco Oil LTD, Kano Industries Stone LTD, Ali Musa Nigeria LTD, Mansur Yusuf Nigeria LTD, Sanduff Oil and Gas, Kachako Petroleum LTD among others.
Alhaji Tafida, however, urged the public to furnish DPR with relevant information on the activities of filling stations across the states that are not complying with government directive.