DPR threatens to shut filling stations selling petrol above N97 per litre

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on Tuesday threatened to shut down any petrol station caught selling fuel above the pump price of N97 per litre. Mr Gbenga Koku, Zonal Controller of the agency, issued the threat in Lagos. He said that the agency’s surveillance teams were currently monitoring activities at various petrol stations across the state.

“It is illegality to sell petrol above pump price of N97 per litre. Any filling station caught. Our surveillance teams have set out since morning to investigate activities at filling stations and depots,’’ he said. Koku said that any station sealed for short changing members of the public would remain closed until such operators purged themselves of the offence and received a clean bill of health from DPR.

According to him, DPR usually seals petrol stations for either selling above the pump price or under dispensing fuel to members of the public. Koku urged Nigerians to be proactive and always report to the agency noticeable sharp practices by operators at petrol stations. He assured Nigerians of the commitment of the DPR in responding to cases of alleged illegalities brought to the attention of the department.

Some petrol stations in Ikorodu, Agege, Mushin and Somolu areas of Lagos State are selling petrol at between N110 to N120 per litre. Some petrol stations in Victoria Island and Ikoyi are, however, selling at N97 per litre. Mr Adeyemi Adetunji, a civil servant in Lagos, said the scarcity of the patrol noticed at the weekend had abated.