DPR seals 42 gas stations as TRCN moves to verify Akwa Ibom teachers

Operations Controller of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Akwa Ibom, Tamunoiminabo Kingsley-Sundaye, has sealed 42 illegally operated gas stations for unsafe practices in the first two months of this year.

Addressing newsmen yesterday in Eket Local Council of the state, the DPR official decried that retailers had in recent times engaged in resale business, noting that such was unknown globally and remained unacceptable in the state.

Kingsley-Sundaye advised landlords to stop letting their property to illegal gas stations to safeguard lives and assets.

According to him, 80 per cent of such facilities have vacated the streets because they could not meet up with requisite operations standards.

“Those that are operating illegal refilling points and over-decorating their shops with nozzles without ventilation are visually off the streets of Akwa Ibom.

“There are positive responses from resellers. If you go to Uyo mostly, you will see a good number of gas plant operators doing cylinder exchange instead of discounting – which is illegal – and not required by any standard,” he clarified.

The controller noted that most of those involved in the illegal business had left for something more productive.

He explained that the DPR had made the operators understand that refilling of cylinders stops at the depots and not shops.
Kingsley-Sundaye expressed satisfaction that the illicit activities were fast fizzling out and becoming unattractive.

His words: “The good thing is that the market is not spreading again. We are trying to resolve the problems that have been created by the original increase.

“The department gives them the requirements to know the dangers they are putting themselves and we are getting results.”