DPR clamps down on illegal filling stations in Akwa Ibom

The Department of Petroleum Resources Eket Field Office in Akwa Ibom (DPR) on Friday said it has uncovered seven illegal filling stations in the state.

This was disclosed by the Operations Controller of DPR in the state, Tamunoiminabo Kingsley-Sundaye, at the end of the organisation’s routine surveillance in Uyo.

Kingsley-Sundaye said that the illegal stations were uncovered while carrying out the exercise in some stations in Ikot Ekpene, Obot Akara, Ikono and Essien Udim Local Government Areas of the state.

Kingsley-Sundaye said, “During the routine surveillance, our observations were not palatable.

“Some facilities do not have identification and if filling stations cannot be identified, that means they are not doing what is right.

Read also: Inflation drops by 0.14 to 11.08% in July

“They could not show evidence that they are stations doing genuine business. No documentation. Therefore, they have been shut down.’’

Kingsley-Sundaye said that the surveillance team visited 15 filling stations, adding that seven were illegal, while eight were sealed for non-renewal of DPR licences.

He said that the organisation had sent a letter to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps urging the agency to ensure that the defaulting marketers were prosecuted.

He warned petroleum marketers to desist from using under-aged persons as pump attendants in their filling stations.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now