On Monday the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Jalingo, Taraba State, said it had sealed ten filling stations for selling petroleum products above the official price.
Mr Jeremiah Mashat, the Controller of Taraba Field Operation’s Office, explained that the action was to make sure that filling stations complied with the government-approved price.
Mashat noted that Marketers must adhere to all regulations governing the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.
According to Mashat, we are out to ensure that those who use petroleum products in the state are not shortchanged.
He said all marketers must comply with the official price of N162 and N165 per litre.
“We were able to seal ten filling stations in Jalingo.
“Before now, we sent out a team that monitored the sale of the product and as well warmed them not to sell above government approved price.
“To our dismay, some of the marketers went ahead and violated the order, and that is why we had no option but to sanction them accordingly.
“They must pay fine for violating our rules and that will serve as a deterrent to many other potential violators,” Mashat was quoted by NAN as saying.
However, Alhaji Lukman Mohammed, the Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Taraba chapter, said the clampdown was unnecessary due to the recent increase in depot charges.
He said the union would hold a meeting with the DPR and discuss how to resolve the impasse.
