The Ebonyi State government on Thursday announced that it has sealed three fuel stations due to under-dispensing.

The Special Assistant to the Governor on Petroleum, Mr. Nwafor Nnaemeka, made this known while speaking with newsmen in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State.

He noted that a task force was deployed to monitor the activities of fuel stations closely.

He said that the three fuel stations sealed were Edde Mass, R&C, and Dozi Oil & Gas, noting that Governor Francis Nwifuru has warned fuel dealers and marketers in the 13 local government areas (LGA) of the state to avoid all forms of fraud.

He revealed that the state government had sealed the three fuel stations for allegedly indulging in sharp practices, such as metre adjustments, among other offences.

Nnaemeka, who read the riot act to fuel dealers, further threatened that the government would continue to seal any fuel station that fails to provide the correct amount for what customers paid, adding that enough is enough.

He said: “Fuel pump price hike is a global menace as far as this country is concerned. The sudden increase in pump prices, both from the depot to fuel station owners, is due to the unavailability of products. As it stands now, Ebonyi State is not an exception; it is almost everywhere in the country, and all states are experiencing it.

“We have been working tirelessly to ensure that fuel stations are not under dispensing. We received information that due to the unavailability of the product, some are using the opportunity to defraud the masses.

“That’s why we deployed a task force to monitor the activities of fuel stations closely. So far, we have sealed three fuel stations: Edde Mass, R&C, and Dozi Oil & Gas due to under-dispensing.

“We are not leaving any stone unturned, and the process continues. After addressing the urban areas, we will move to the rural areas to ensure that the masses get value for what they paid for.”

He further debunked allegations circulating in the state that fake task force agents have infiltrated fuel stations and extorted money from dealers.

“Anyone claiming that the government is not monitoring fuel station activities is not telling the truth. That is why we sealed the three fuel stations, and they will not go scot-free. We may use them as examples because defrauding the masses is unacceptable. They will face the full wrath of the law.

“Additionally, it is not true that fake task force agents are flooding fuel stations in the state. I have task force agents approved by Governor Francis Nwifuru, working under my department to address sharp practices at fuel stations, including adulteration, metre adjustments, and other illicit activities. This ensures that the masses receive the value for their money.

“For now, there are no fake task force agents in the state as far as petroleum is concerned. The task force agents we have are legally approved by the governor, and they are actively detecting faults at fuel stations,” he stated.