DPR Seals 6 Petrol Stations in Sokoto, Kebbi

The Department of Petroleum Resources ( DPR) on tuesday said it has sealed six filling stations for various offences in Sokoto and Kebbi States.

Speaking with journalists in Sokoto, the acting Zonal Controller, Sokoto State, Alhaji Nura Kamba, said the filling stations were sealed for selling above the pump price of N 145 per litre, alleged diversion, security issues, as well as lack of neatness.

Kamba said that four among the sealed filing stations were in Sokoto State, while two were in Kebbi State.

He explained that five of the closed filling stations were owned by independent petroleum marketers, while one belonged to a major marketing firm.

Kamba stated that all the filling stations that were indicted for selling petrol above pump price were fined N100,000, per pump and later reopened.

"All the filling stations  sealed for alleged diversion were only reopened after they  were forced to return the products to their stations for sale to the motorists,"he said.

He however, acknowledged that there was a shortfall in the supply of petrol products in the country.

The acting Controller noted that an average of only three trucks were now supplied to Sokoto city daily, as against the average daily demand of about 18 trucks in the metropolis.

He promised that officials of the DPR  would sustain their routine checks and raids to the filling stations, to ensure that the motorists get value for their money.

"We will not relent on our routine checks and raid on filling stations so as to stop them from cheating on the unsuspecting motorists,"Kamba added.