Did you know that A’Ibom has highest number of fraudulent fuel stations?

 

 

Akwa Ibom State has been fingered as one with the highest number of fuel stations with cases of pump dispensing inefficiency, hoarding, diversion and arbitrary increase in prices of petroleum prod­ucts in Nigeria.

Consequently, the Department of Petroleum Re­sources (DPR), has handed down the last warning that sanction awaits any member of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IP­MAN), who henceforth refuses to comply with the new pump price of N86.50 per litre.

DPR’s Controller Operations in charge of Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, Mr Bassey Nkanga, who gave the warning at DPR/IPMAN meeting in Eket, Akwa Ibom on Friday, however pleaded with petroleum products marketers to comply with gov­ernment directives as the era of impunity was over.

“I am pleading with all of us here, things have changed, the era of impunity is gone and govern­ment is serious about selling petroleum products at approved pump price. I want to plead with us, you have made so much money, now is time for everybody to comply with Federal Government di­rectives,’’ he stressed.

Nkanga lamented that only 50 per cent of filling stations in the state are operating with DPR’s valid license, adding that marketers in Akwa Ibom were among the few in the country dispensing fuel far above regulated prices.

“Government will not tolerate any longer any­body selling petroleum products above pump price irrespective of whatever story anybody has. The stand of government is that if you know you cannot make profit for selling at N86.50 per litre, please don’t sell,’’ he explained.

He warned marketers to desist from sharp prac­tices to enable the government achieve its objec­tives.

He urged those who find it difficult to comply to have a change of behaviour as government would not tolerate lawlessness in the system.

The state chairman of IPMAN, Mr Nseobong Umanah, in his reaction, blamed the situation on the activities of the private depot owners in Cala­bar; and explained that it was difficult to buy the products above N77.66 from the depot and dispense it at regulated prices at the retail outlets.

He, however, promised to co-operate with the fed­eral government in providing the needed services to the people.