The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR)

  • Filling station sealed in Sokoto for malpractices.

    Filling station sealed in Sokoto for malpractices.

    The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), said it had sealed a filling station in Illela, Sokoto State for allegedly selling petrol above the pump price of N145 per litre.

    The Department’s Operations Controller in Sokoto, Mr Mohammed Makera, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto on Saturday.

    Makera said that the axed station which belonged to an independent petroleum marketer was also fined N100, 000, per pump.

    “ The action was a sequel to the raids we have sustained on both independent and major marketers’ filling stations in Sokoto and Kebbi states.

    “In Kebbi alone, our officials had visited no fewer than 40 filling stations, and same was done in Sokoto,” he said.

    Makera stated that the department’s personnel would sustain their surveillance activities and raids to the filling stations in the bid to ensure that no unsuspecting motorist is cheated.

    The controller vowed to ensure that motorists get value for their money, even as he advised them against panic buying during the yuletide.

    ” There are adequate supplies of all the petroleum products, so there is no need for panic buying,” Makera said.

  • 19 filling stations in Sokoto, Kebbi axed for alleged malpractice – DPR

    19 filling stations in Sokoto, Kebbi axed for alleged malpractice – DPR

    19 filling stations in Sokoto and Kebbi states have been sealed by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) for allegedly selling petrol above the pump price of N 145.

    The Sokoto operations Controller of the Department, Mr Mohammed Makera, disclosed this to newsmen in Sokoto on Tuesday.

    Makera said 11 of the axed stations were in Sokoto State while eight were in Kebbi.

    He said of 18 of them were owned by independent marketers,while one was a major oil company.

    Makera added that all the stations were allegedly selling petroleum at between N 148 and N 150.

    He added that they were each fined N 100,000 per pump as well as placed on a two-week suspension.

    Makera said officials of the department would ensure that the unsuspecting motorists were not cheated by the marketers.

    The controller also assured that there were adequate supplies of petroleum products, urging motorists to desist from panic buying.

  • Oil production in Lagos’ll boost Nigeria’s economy

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday said that the commencement of crude oil production in the State would in no small measure, enhance the economy of not just the State but the nation in general.

    The Governor, who spoke when he received the Chairman and members of the Indices and Disbursement Committee of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) on a courtesy visit to the Lagos House, Ikeja, said that it was significant for the Nigerian economy that the State has emerged as the first oil producing state outside the Niger Delta basin.

    He described the visit by the committee as remarkable in the annals of the history of Lagos, adding that it signals the official step that takes the State to the final destination that makes us to become an oil producing state.

    “We are very glad to receive this delegation. We also want to thank the Federal Government, most especially President Muhammadu Buhari for making this happen very promptly. I want to say that this has been the quickest action that has been taken by RMAFC since I have known the Commission.

    “I used to be a former Account General so I had a lot of transactions and relationship with the institution called RMAFC. Within a span of about 60 days of when we wrote our letter, and even before we wrote the letter, this technical committee was set up. It gladdens me to say that the institution works and is working for the good of Nigeria,” the Governor said.

    Governor Ambode also commended the members of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Boundary Commission, saying that both have contributed immensely to the process of the discovery and production of crude oil in Lagos.

    While alluding to the fact that the feat in Lagos has kick-started the path to diversification of oil production in Nigeria, the Governor urged other states in the federation to begin to activate the mineral deposits in their domain as a means to boost their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    “It would also give us revenue independence in a manner that there would be equal growth from all the nooks and corners of Nigeria. I am happy that RMAFC has taken this step and also to say that they should also encourage other states to engage in such activities that would allow them to be able to activate whatever mineral deposit that we have in the various states in conjunction with the Federal Government, so that we can start to diversify revenue and growth and then create a balanced growth and development for the whole country,” Ambode said.

    Earlier, Chairman of the Committee, Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed said they were on a working visit to Lagos to verify crude oil and gas production from Aje Oil Wells for the purpose of disbursement of the 13 per cent Derivation Fund to the State in line with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    He said the Commission had set-up an Inter-Agency technical Committee comprising of the RMAFC, DPR, Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation and the National Boundary Commission to determine the location of the Aje Oil Wells.

    Mohammed said that the Technical Committee recommended that for the purpose of the Derivation Fund as spelt out under Section 162 (2) of the 1999 constitution as well as the provision of the Allocation of Revenue Act 2004, number 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the Aje Oil Wells fall within 200m isobaths and therefore should be attributed to Lagos State.

    He said as a result, the Commission and members of the Inter-Agency Committee had to embark on the working visit to the Oil Wells to conclude the process.

    He added that the outcome of the visit would promote national unity as well as the socio-economic development of Lagos State and Nigeria.

    “It is also important to state that the commencement of oil production from Aje oil field by Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum Company Limited is the first time oil is being produced outside the Niger Delta basin and therefore of a significance in diversifying the source of crude and gas production in the country,” Mohammed said.

  • DPR, PPMC, PPPRA join PENGASSAN to down tool

    DPR, PPMC, PPPRA join PENGASSAN to down tool

    Sequel to the memo to all chairmen and secretaries in the four zones and branches on the planned shutdown of the operations and activities in the oil and gas industry by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), other members such as Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), has signified their plans to also join the strike.

    In a press statement signed by the National Public Relation Office , PENGASSAN, Comrade Emmanuel Ojugbana, members on Tuesday, met

    met in all the zones to fine-tune the strategies and modalities for the strike .

    He said “In the meeting, the gradual method of shutdown was critical examined and adopted by the members.

    “The action, which will cripple all activities and operations in the oil and gas sector, will affect all the sub sectors as our members in the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Petroleum Equalisation Fund (Monitoring Board) PEF (MB), Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), oil majors, labour and contract services companies, and petroleum products marketing companies will join in the action”.

    He  appeal for understanding of all Nigerians and operators that will be impacted by the action, saying that the industrial action is critical to the survival of the oil and gas industry, which according to him,  currently is the mainstay of the nation’s economy.

    Speaking with The Nation,  the Rivers State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, and former National Industrial Relations Officer of PENGASSAN, Chika Onuegbu, said all branches of the union were on high alert waiting for the directive of the national executives.

    Comrade Onuegbu said: PENGASSAN and its members have been facing challenges recently due to the mass sack of its members by various oil and gas companies and that companies have been facing serious challenges due to slump in oil prices, militant attacks.

    He added that the Federal Government is owing the JV partners about 7 billion US Dollars piled up from the indebtedness of the previous administrations, which was about 5 billion Dollars before it racked up to about 7 billion as at today.

    PENGASSAN, on Monday, directed its members to prepare for strike from Thursday over some unresolved industry issues with the Federal Government.

    According to the statement from PENGASSAN,  the association tried to engage the Federal Government on May 24,, 2016, which was inconclusive. The engagement was later fixed for June 23, 2016, which did not take place and again of June 30, 2016 which was unceremoniously cancelled with no new date given.