Yakubu Busari
The Operation Controller of the Department of Petroleum Resources in Plateau state Mallam Idris Yahaya Abubakar said 22 illegal filling stations have been shut down by the task force on the retail outlet department.
Abubakar vowed to ensure that the exercise will continue to ensure the availability of petroleum products to the citizens of the state. He stressed that the DPR has stepped up efforts toward ensuring that oil marketers strictly comply with the federal government prize of 87 naira per litre with 10 still under surveillance.
The Directorate has, however begun clamping down on illegal marketers in Plateau state who fell short of this order.
The Head of retail outlets and marketers in charge of Plateau state, Engr Shehu Yusuf disclose that all the defaulters who failed to comply with the order will have their filing stations shut down.
On an inspection tour to filling stations within Jos metropolis, those who refused to comply with the policy trust directive were sealed.
They Include, JOFEMBA GLOBAL venture ,PENGANA Concept Ltd, Harix Petroleum Ltd, Based -Hatu integrated service , Mobile oil Zaria Farin Gada ,Yakari oil company and many more.
According to Yusuf some were sealed on account of noncompliance with the government approved price of N87 per liter while Yankari Oil Company Ltd was placed on three months suspension for selling PMS products in rubber cage and to black marketers.
He disclosed that the exercise which commenced on the 17th August, 2015 is aimed at ensuring that all illegal operators in the country are flush out for masses to benefit from the downstream policy.
Yusuf explained further that many marketers couldn’t comply with the directive and their filing stations had to be sealed and some of them were close down abandon owners.
According to him, those that comply with the price control did so based on efficiency that they display, which indicates that they are ready to obey the directives.
In one of the new filing stations at Hwolshe which operate an illegal station, Yusuf said the department had to collaborate with government to ensure that they are dismantled completely.
Abubakar added that this will bring sanity into the downstream sector, which is going to continue by observing appropriate sanctions melted on all the defaulters. He explained that they need the cooperation of the Police to enforce the order.
