Five filling stations in Ilorin, Kwara state’s capital were on Tuesday, March 16, sealed by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) for various offences including over-pricing and under-dispensing.
Controller, Ilorin field office of the DPR, Engineer Sule Yusuf said the affected filling stations were part of 35 filling stations monitored by officials of the agency across the metropolis.
Yusuf said “We observed that operators seem to be taking laws into their hands by selling over what government has allowed them to sell, especially, for Petrol. We’ve been going out to monitor before, and we’ll continue to do that. Today is just special because we’re out to monitor price, quality, quantity and pump efficiency. Two teams of the DPR officials went out this morning in different directions. We visited about 35 filling stations out of which two absconded and sealed. They know the consequences. About three stations were caught over-pricing. We’ve forced them to bring the price down to the allowable range and they’ve complied so that they don’t continue cheating the public. For now, there’s no increase in pump price, so they have to comply. If any station is selling above the window range of N162 and N165 per litre, people should inform the authority. We’ll visit those stations and force them to comply in addition to sanction. Operators are advised to play the game according to rules to avoid being sanctioned. Yes, they are out to make profits but not at the detriment of the majority of the public”