The Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has shut down no fewer than 22 fuel stations for dispensing petrol to customers above the approved pump price.
The sealed stations include 14 in Kano State and another eight in Osun State.
The Coordinator of Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in Kano State, Mr. Aliyu Muhammad-Sama, during a monitoring and surveillance exercise on Thursday, said the authority shut the stations for dispensing fuel at N295 and N300 per litre above the approved pump price, as well as breach of surveillance for confirmation discharge and price regulations.
“We have strict regulation to punish offenders which include revoking their licence of operation, sanction, payment of penalty and invalidation of transaction.
“For now; the sealed fuel stations will be sanctioned to pay N150,000 per pump nozzle so long as they are willing to revert to prices that are convenient for the public,” Muhammad-Sama said.
He, however, said that major marketers were dispensing fuel at N185 per litre, adding that the authority had sealed over 120 fuel stations in the state in December 2022.
“For any station that refuses to discharge or sell at stipulated price, we will invalidate their equalisation transaction. Equalisation is the payment of N45 per litre for fuel they transport from Lagos or Port Hacourt,” Muhammad-Sama said.
Also, Coordinator, Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Osun State, Mr Kunle Adeyemo, said the agency’s routine surveillance to filling stations was aimed at sensitising the public that the pump price of petrol, as approved by the federal government, had not changed.
He said that the surveillance operation would continue on a daily basis until all marketers within the state reverted to the government-approved price for PMS.
“We are out basically because prices of fuel are getting erratic and we are trying to tell the people that there is a specific price for petroleum and government has not changed it. We want to ensure that every filling station in the state adheres strictly to the official price of between N179 and N180 per litre,” Adeyemo said.
He said that the agency would continue to work round the clock to ensure that the masses were not in any way cheated by petroleum marketers.
The NMDPRA coordinator appealed to the general public to always report sharp practices by petroleum marketers at the agency’s offices for appropriate action.
NMDPRA recently assured that the Federal government has no intention to increase the price in the meantime.
The agency said the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has a stock of the product that could last 34 days.
The government debunked speculations of possible increase in petrol price, assuring that it would monitor the supply situation to restore normalcy.
While advising marketers to shun diversion of the product, the agency urged consumers to desist from panic buying.
“This advisory addresses speculations on the price and availability of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). The authority wishes to inform the general public that the Federal Government has no intention of increasing the price of PMS during this period.
“The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) has imported PMS with current stock levels sufficient for 34 days.
Consequently, Marketers and the general public are advised to avoid panic buying, diversion of products, and hoarding.
“In keeping with the authority’s responsibilities as outlined in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the authority assures the public that it would continue to monitor the supply and distribution of all petroleum products nationwide especially during this holiday season,” NMDPRA stated.
– NAN