DPR warns of marketers’ plans to hoard petroleum products

• To sanction marketers involved in sharp practices
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has accused petroleum marketers of planning to hoard products and defraud buyers by manipulating dispensing pumps.

The Director of DPR, Mordecai Ladan, stated this in Abuja yesterday.

He said the DPR received an intelligence report on the unwholesome activities of some marketers.

According to him: “It has come to the attention of the Department of Petroleum Resources the unwholesome activities of some marketers who indulge in hoarding and diversion of petroleum products in their terminals across the country. They also manipulate the retail dispensing pumps at the filling stations to cheat unsuspecting buyers.”

Ladan stated that while the DPR will intensify its surveillance duty, it has zero tolerance for hoarding and sharp practices in the distribution of petroleum products in the country.

“DPR reiterates its commitment to ensuring that marketers comply with best practices in the oil and gas sector,” he added.

“Consequently, marketers are hereby warned to desist from such sharp practices and deliver products lifted from the depots to designated filling stations within the stipulated one to three days period, depending on the point of discharge,” the DPR director stated.

He maintained that the sanctions applicable to all defaulters of the regulations guiding the sale and distributions of petroleum products in the country remain extant.

“We advise the public to contact the DPR through this number 08057495196 to report any petroleum products marketer found involved in sharp practices,” Ladan said.