DPR cancels fuel reservation for special customers at petrol stations

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on Saturday said that it has cancelled the reservation of petroleum products for institutions, and “special customers,” also known as credit customers.

Speaking with journalists during the enforcement and monitoring of products sale in Abuja, the Zonal Operations Controller, Abuja, Mr. Mohammed Usman, said that DPR has insisted that there is no longer any “VIP” customer in the petrol stations.

All customers, according to him, are expected to pass through the same process to access the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) instead of the preferential treatment that some petrol stations accord some executive customers.

His comments followed the discovery that the Mobil in Lugbe Extension on Airport Road was hoarding the 3,900 litres of petrol in its underground tanks which the Station Manager reserved for “credit customers.” But the team compelled the manager to sell the product immediately.

He said that “DPR has cancelled that special reservations for special institutions. Every organisation is to queue up and get fuel like any other person. They had over 3,900 liters which could serve over 50 vehicles but we didn’t even meet up to 20 vehicles there because they said they reserved it for credit customers and DPR has cancelled credit customer.”

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While at the station, a customer gave the DPR monitoring team a tip-off about an illegal petrol station in Iddo Sarki on the same airport road that was selling petrol for N170 per litre.

At Iddo, the anonymous petrol station was caught selling petrol for N150 per liter with an adjusted pump from its 3,900 liters stock that was under dispensed to customers.

The DPR forced the station to adjust the pump price to N86.50 per litre and the fuel attendant refused to disclose the source of the petrol.

Usman however explained that he refused to give order that the product should be sold free-of charge because of the risk involved.

“Some of the customers will always seize the nozzle to serve themselves and these Okada boys at times bring out daggers to ensure that they get the free petrol before it is exhausted. We experienced that the last time we tried that even with the director. We asked the director to leave because they can even lynch you, “said Usman.

The controller lamented that some illegal stations lifted consignments from the depot, adding that DPR would stop it.

Continuing, he said: “Not only that they are selling above pump price and also under-dispensing. And the penalty for selling above the pump price is that for every pump will be charged N100,000. But this is a special problem and we are going to seal this station and station our staff and security here.”

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