DPR Shuts Down Six Petrol Stations In Sokoto For Causing Artificial Scarcity

By Chris Nomjov
The Department of Petroleum Resources, Tuesday, sealed six independent marketers’ filling stations in Sokoto and its environs for causing hoarding petrol and related offences.

The Zonal Operations Controller of the department in charge of Sokoto and Kebbi states, Alhaji Mohammed Makera, disclosed this to newsmen in Sokoto on Tuesday shortly after a raid on some filling stations.

Makera said five of the filling stations were sealed for selling petrol above the official pump price of N87 per litre and fined N100,000 each.

The remaining filling station was sealed for hoarding and fined N200,000.

“All the sealed filling stations would not be reopened until they write an undertaking to sell petroleum products at the government-approved pump prices,” he said.

Makera warned the marketers against contravening the government regulations, vowing to duly sanction any erring filling station in the two states.

Recently the state, just like a few states across the nation; had been experiencing artificial scarcity of petrol, leading to hiked prices and panic buying.

However, regulatory agency, The Department of Petroleum Resources said it had sealed six independent marketers’ filling stations in Sokoto and its environs for various offences.

The Zonal Operations Controller of the department in charge of Sokoto and Kebbi states, Alhaji Mohammed Makera, disclosed this to newsmen in Sokoto on Tuesday shortly after a raid on some filling stations.

The Zonal Controller explained that five of the filling stations were sealed for selling the product above the official pump price of N87 per litre and fined N100,000 each.

The remaining filling station was sealed for hoarding and fined N200,000.

“All the sealed filling stations would not be reopened until they write an undertaking to sell petroleum products at the government-approved pump prices,” he said.

Makera warned the marketers against contravening the government regulations, vowing to duly sanction any erring filling station in the two states.

In recent times, inhabitants of the state have been experiencing shortage of petroleum products with many filling stations closed down leading to hike in the pump price by some station owners who still have the products. This attendant hike in pump price, has led to about 20% increase in fares, within and outside Sokoto metropolis.