THE Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has sealed two petroleum retail outlets and two gas plants based in Delta State over sharp practices.
The Delta State Coordinator of NMDPRA, Mr. Victor Ohwodiasa, disclosed this to newsmen, yesterday, in Warri.
Ohwodiasa said that the erring stations were sealed by the surveillance team of the regulatory authority in the Asaba and Ibusa axis of the state.
He said that the offences bordered on under-dispensing, operating without valid licenses and other illegalities within the filling stations.
The coordinator stressed that the authority would not tolerate a situation where people are shortchanged as a result of under-dispensing and other illegalities.
“In line with our mandate, we constantly visit petroleum retail outlets to ensure they sell one litre for one litre.
“Agreeably, there are bound to be variations due to mechanical error in their machines, but these are subject to limits, when it exceeds, we shut down the facilities,” he said.
Ohwodiasa called on the petroleum marketers to ensure that their metres are well calibrated and sell accurately.
“Based on what we have been doing to ensure the consumers are not shortchanged, we have been visiting retail outlets across the state to ensure sanity is maintained within the area.
“This week, we have sealed four stations within the Asaba and Ibusa axis over offences bordering on under-dispensing, operating without valid licenses and illegal activities within the filling stations.
“We will continue to sustain the tempo in this ember months and beyond to ensure products are made available to consumers and sold at the right prices and quantity,” he said.
Ohwodiasa urged the public to always notify the regulatory authority when ever they notice any awkward transactions in their dealings with the petroleum marketers for immediate action.
According to him, the awkward dealings included but not limited to under-dispensing, product quality, suspected diversion, illegal bunkering activities, and illegal discharge of unauthorised petroleum products in unauthorised locations. (NAN)
