DPR Fines Fuel Stations, Auctions 6,500 Litres In Yobe

THE Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Yobe State yesterday fined Forte Oil with the auctioning of 6,500 litres of petrol for hoarding and diversions during on spot distribution and sale of petroleum products by a joint team of DPR, Pipelines Products Marketing Company (PPMC) and the Department of State Security Services officials in Damaturu.

Speaking to newsmen on Thursday on fuel scarcity, the Zonal Comptroller of DPR, Idris Zoaka said that the fuel stations visited in Damaturu were found to be hoarding and diverting fuel supplied to them last Monday.

He further disclosed that apart from hoarding and diversions, most of the filling stations are “under-dispensing” and sell fuel above the official pump price of N87 a litre.

At Forte Oil on Biu road, Damaturu, three trucks of petrol allocated to the station were however diverted, while 4,300 litres of petrol were also hoarded after the joint team of DPR, DSS and PPMC confirmed availability of fuel in one of the underground tanks.

Other fuel stations allegedly involved in hoarding and diversions include Alhaji Umaru Ngelzarma and Company, Alhaji Abdullahi Ladan and Sons, Alibint Petroleum Resources, Kime and Sons Petroleum Company, MRS, Gumalti and A. M. Tatagana.

The Guardian also confirmed that out of the seven affected fuel stations visited yesterday, 144,820 litres of petrol were also hoarded without being sold to motorists in Damaturu, the state capital.

measures against fuel hoarders, Zoaka said: “We are going to take the measures of penalties for hoarding and diversions of this product with the managers of the fuel stations. Most of the fuel stations we have seen, some are under-delivery; but not in great amount or level.

“In Yobe State, the petroleum products are not really available, so we want to enable people to get the product; and not to seal up or stop people from getting fuel. We want to make it available first for people to able to obtain it.”