For offences associated with under-dispensing and lack of valid licences, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has sealed two petroleum retail outlets in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Head, Retail Infrastructure, of the NMDPRA office in Warri, Mr. Idemudia Obeahon, made the disclosure to newsmen on Thursday, shortly after a surveillance exercise by the regulatory agency.
Mr. Obeahon, who led the surveillance team in the routine exercise, is currently acting on behalf of the Delta Coordinator of NMDPRA, Mr. Victor Ohwodiasa.
He said that the defaulters were sanctioned for offences bordering on under-dispensing and operating without valid licences.
Obeahon said that surveillance was part of the mandates of the regulatory agency to ensure that petroleum products were dispensed at the right quality and quantity to the public.
“Routine surveillance is part of our responsibilities, and we check practically on a daily basis to ensure the right products are dispensed to the public.
“We check for quality to ensure the marketers sell the right quality. We also check for under-dispensing to ensure they sell the right quality and quantity to consumers.
“Beyond that, we also check to know if the marketers are selling in a safe and secure environment. This is a routine exercise we do almost every day.
“Though there are bound to be defaulters, today we have sealed two filling stations mainly for under-dispensing and operating with expired licences,” he said.
Obeahon acknowledged that the marketers were into business to maximise profit, but advised them to sell the right quality and dispense the right quantity to the consumers.
He expressed hope that things would improve and urged consumers to be vigilant while buying products.
The team leader also advised the consumers to report any sharp practices by the marketers to the NMDPRA for appropriate sanctions.
Obeahon, however, noted that there was not much pressure in Warri in terms of the availability of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), unlike what is currently obtainable in some parts of the country.
“Unlike some parts of the country, there is not much pressure in Warri. Some filling stations are virtually empty; some have products but no customers.
“Also, we have not experienced buying in jerry cans for trans-boarders smuggling out of the state; we are on the lookout,” he said.
Some of the filling stations inspected were: Rainoil on Ogunu Road; Total Energies at Okumagba Ave. by Airport Road; and Newbridge Filling Station also by Airport Road.
Others were Odafe Global Oil and Gas Company Ltd. and Matrix Energy, both on the airport road; A. A. Rano at the Effurun/Sapele road; and the NNPC station situated on the NPA motorway by Niger Cat.
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