Mohammed Shosanya
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has sealed two petroleum retail outlets in Warri, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta.
Mr. Idemudia Obeahon, Head, Retail Infrastructure, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) office in Warri,disclosed this after a surveillance exercise by the regulatory agency.
He further disclosed that the defaulters were sanctioned for offences bordering on under dispensing and operating without valid licenses.
Mr. Obeahon said that surveillance was part of the mandates of the regulatory agency to ensure that petroleum products were dispensed at the right quality and quantities to the public.
He said: “Routine surveillance is part of our responsibilities and we check practically on daily basis to ensure the right products are dispensed to the public.
“We check for quality to ensure that marketers sell the right quality. We also check for under-dispensing to ensure they sell the right quality and quantity to the consumers.
“Beyond that, we also check to know if the marketers are selling at safe and secured environment. This is a normal routine exercise we do almost everyday.
“Though, there are bound to be defaulters, so, today, we have sealed two filling stations majorly for under-dispensing and operating with expired licenses,” he said.
Acknowledging that marketers were into business to maximise profit, Mr. Obeahon advised them to sell the right quality and dispense the right quantities to their customers.
He expressed hope that things would improve and urged consumers to be vigilant while buying products.
The Head, Retail Infrastructure, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Warri office advised consumers to report any sharp practices by marketers to the NMDPRA for appropriate sanctions.
He noted that there was no much pressure in Warri in terms of the availability of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol unlike what currently obtains in some other parts of the country.
He added:”Unlike some parts of the country, there is no much pressure in Warri. Some filling stations are virtually empty, some have products but no customers.
“Also, we have not experienced buying in Jerry cans for trans-boarder smuggling out of the state, we are on the watch out,” he said.