The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority on Friday, sealed 13 fuel stations in Akwa Ibom State including that owned by the Senior Special Assistant to the governor, Udom Emmanuel, on Petroleum Matters, Mr. Victor Etefia, for dispensing and selling petroleum products to the public above government’s approved price.
The Team Lead, Distribution Systems Storage and Retailing Infrastructure, Mr. Joy Koro, who disclosed this while speaking with newsmen during a monitoring and surveillance exercise in Uyo, explained that the fuel stations were sealed for selling far above the regulated pump price in the state.
He added that three among the affected stations that violated the government seal order would be sanctioned accordingly.
“We shut down 13 filling stations that were selling far above the government regulated pump price. Three of them violated government seal order, the stations would be sanctioned accordingly,” adding that the affected fuel stations would not operate for a stipulated period of time in the state.
Koro, who warned marketers to desist from selling the products above government approved pump price and revert the pump to the approved price in the state, lamented that marketers were “dispensing the petroleum products at prices higher than government approved pump price of N165 per litre and above.
“If you see any marketer selling above the regulated price, definitely that filling station will be shut down.
Presently, there is enough petroleum products for marketers to lift to their stations. The marketers know the government approved pump price, if we carry out surveillance and we see them selling at regulated price, we will not seal the filling station,” he said.
Our correspondent gathered that most fuel stations sell Premium Motor Spirit between N300 per litre and N320 in the state.
