In its efforts to ensure strict adherance the approved pump price of N87 for petrol, the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR in Plateau State has sealed 22 fuel stations in Jos/Bukuru metropolis for non-compliance with Government’s official price for fuel and conniving with “Black Marketers” to defraud consumers in the State.

This was disclosed by the State Operation Controller of the Agency, Idris Abubakar, saying so far, the DPR has sealed 22 fuel stations during the routine checks carried out since Monday to ensure the Marketers comply with directives of giving fuel at Government approved price and selling same with sound pumps.

Abubakar said, “The DPR is working to ensure sanity in the downstream sector. This State has no fewer than 55 illegal stations who are not complying with relevant directives in their mode of operations.

He assured appropriate sanctions will continuously be meted out on defaulters so that they comply and do the needful in their operations.

Meanwhile, Shehu Yusuf who is the Head, Retails Outlet and Marketing, who led the team on an inspection tour to fuel stations in Jos North and Jos South LGAs assured that illegal operators will be flushed out for the masses to benefit from the down stream policy.

Some of the visited stations were sealed on account of non-compliance with the government approved price of N87 per liter, selling PMS products in jerricans to black marketers, selling with faulty or adjusted pumps among other offenses.

Yusuf added that, “We are sealing the fuel stations because most of them are not complying with the government price but sell at their desired price.

“Some stations sell it at N97 and some even above N100 even when their pump price read N87. 00. He lamented.

“The punishment for violating DPR policy varies depending on the kind of offense a station commits. Those selling for Black Marketers would be sanctioned for three months.” He warned.

However, the ongoing exercise has caused temporary fuel scarcity in the city as most stations who are found wanting abandoned their stations for fear of being sanctioned and some who opened for business closed within a short period of sales.

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DPR Seals Over 20 Fuel Stations in Jos