DPR Seals 294 Filling Stations In Lagos

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) says it sealed 294 filling stations for various offences in Lagos in 2012.
Mrs. Belema Osibodu, an Assistant Director (Public Affairs) in the DPR, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday.
Osibodu said that the stations were sealed for under dispensing and hoarding of petroleum products, among others, adding that the offenders were handed over to the police for prosecution.
Mr. Gbenga Koku, the DPR Acting Operations Controller in Lagos/Ogun Zone of DPR, expressed worries over unwholesome practices of some petroleum dealers.
Koku expressed regret that some dealers still engaged in sharp practices, even when petroleum products were available.
He said that the DPR was intensifying efforts to curtail fuel adulteration and under-dispensing of petroleum products by dealers.
On the number of those convicted, he said that the department could not immediately provide the details because those held were handed over to the police for prosecution.
“The law establishing the DPR did not give it the power to arrest and prosecute offenders.
“The legal aspect is handled by the police and we leave at that point because the law does not allow us to arrest and take offenders to court.
“But we make sure that every faulty facility is evacuated from the offenders’ premises.
“This is to ensure that the dealer does not continue to under-dispense or sell adulterated fuel to unsuspecting consumers,” Koku said.
He said that the DPR had also started inspecting corporate organisations to ascertain their level of compliance with the minimum safety measures in fuel storage.