DPR seals off 50 filling stations in Ibadan

As fuel scarcity bites harder in Ibadan, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) yesterday sealed off about 50 fuel stations across the state for various offences.

The sealing and subsequent sanction followed the arbitrary increase in the pump price of petroleum products by independent marketers in the state.

Besides, they were accused of hoarding premium motor spirit otherwise called petrol thus creating artificial scarcity while also absconding from station when people queue up to buy fuel and delaying sales of fuel product till late in the night to make illegal gains.

Acting on tip-off and series of complaints from the members of the public on their ordeals from the fuel marketers in certain parts of the state, the staff of DPR in conjunction with men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps visited the interior parts of the state where sharp practices are most rampant.

In most of the stations visited, petrol sells for between N105 and N110 per litre and an additional charge of N100 for every 10litres bought

The team that inspected Apata, Ashipa, New-Garage, Arapaja and it environs also sealed off more than twenty stations.

The Operations Controller, Olakunle Ogunlana while speaking with reporters described the scarcity as ‘artificial’ saying government is doing enough to ensure availability of petroleum product across the country and will not hesitate to deal with anyone caught hoarding the product.