Security operatives, on Thursday, arrested four suspects when the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) began a clampdown on black marketers of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) petrol in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Leading a team of the Authority, executive directors Ogbugo Ukoha & Dr. Mustapha Larmode in collaboration with security agencies conducted surveillance to some outlets around the metropolis and in the process discovered a couple of illegal fuel dumps and depots around the FCT.
NMDPRA revealed this through a statement, saying: “Four persons were eventually apprehended and taken into custody. The perpetrators were arrested and subsequently handed over to the Department of State Security for prosecution.”
NMDPRA, the statement added, had hosted a stakeholders meeting involving major retail outlet managers in the FCT.
The meeting was aimed at reiterating Authority’s standing regulations against illegal peddling of petroleum products particularly PMS (petrol) in jerrycans.
The statement noted that NMDPRA will ensure strict compliance by increasing its surveillance monitoring routine and would seriously clampdown on erring marketers who are seen to be aiding and abetting this practice by suspending their retail licenses.
The Authority is taking this decisive step to safeguard lives and properties of Nigerians that are usually at risk of fire outbreaks through improper handling of the volatile & highly flammable product. The Authority is also mindful of the nefarious practices of cross border smuggling of the products with the use of jerrycans.