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Tag: filling stations

  • Anambra Govt vows to seal filling stations over price, metre adjustments

    Anambra Govt vows to seal filling stations over price, metre adjustments

    The Anambra state government issued a stern warning against the escalation of petroleum product prices, product adulteration, and meter tampering by marketers, threatening them with severe consequences if they persist.

    The state’s commissioner for petroleum and mineral resources, Anthony Ifeanya, emphasised that the government would commence rigorous monitoring of all filling stations across the state.

    Speaking in Awka, the state capital, over the weekend, he confirmed that the ministry had finalised preparations for the measure.

    It was gathered that some of the filling stations had started selling a litre of Petrol between N850 to N970 in the state, with heavily adjusted pumps, while some of the marketers had equally, gone into adulteration to make more gains.

    However, Ifeanya, said the state government was embarking on the exercise to apprehend any filling station operators found to have tampered with their meters.

    The commissioner, a lawyer, warned perpetrators of such acts to desist forthwith or face the full weight of the law.

    The Nation gathered that the development came on the heels of “uncountable complaints” of “tampered meters”, “adulterated fuel” and shady deals by petroleum marketers being lodged at the state ministry of petroleum.

    Read Also: Gambari calls for UN Security Council’s reform to prevent another genocide

     It was observed on Sunday, May 12, that most filling stations were not dispensing the product while the few ones dispensing were besieged by motorists and other users of the product.

    The development made transportation fares to suddenly soar above 100 percent as commuters now pay N300 for a journey that they initially paid N150.

    Investigation revealed that most filling stations operating in Onitsha, Nnewi, Ekwulobia, Obosi, and some parts of Awka, sold above N970 per litre.

    However, Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) facilities located along the Awka-Enugu expressway and in Onitsha were seen selling the product between N820 to N850 per litre.

    One of the customers encountered by The Nation, who has his name as Ephraim, at one of the filling stations, said the situation had become unbearable.

    He said: “The price of the product has been fluctuating for a long time, when some States were crying, we were buying between N700 to N720 per litre in Anambra, but today, it had gone up to between N920 to N970, almost hitting N1,000. How are we going to survive?

  • Fuel queues back at filling stations in Lagos

    Many petrol retail outlets in Lagos and Abuja yesterday closed shops while the few that sold had long queues as motorists waited to fill their vehicles’ tanks and buy some in kegs to keep as reserves in expectation that fuel scarcity could worsen.

    However, oil marketers assured there was no scarcity and advised fuel consumers not to engage in panic-buying as what led to the gap in fuel supply and distribution, which resulted in the queues at fuel stations, was a minor operational problem.

    The problem, according to the marketers, has been addressed and depots are loading 24 hours, and whatever supply gap there is will be closed between today and tomorrow.

    The Executive Secretary, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Mr. Clement Isong, told The Nation that all their members’ depots had fuel.

    He said there was a slight technical hiccup which the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the marketers had already resolved, adding that there would be normal supply, and any envisaged scarcity would be over this weekend.

    Read also: Disregard rumour of fuel scarcity, NNPC tells Nigerians

    Companies that make up MOMAN include Total Nigeria Plc, Conoil Plc, Oando Plc, 11Plc (formerly Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc), MRS Oil Nigeria Plc and Forte Oil Plc.

    Isong said: “All the tanks have product. There is no supply shortage. What caused the queue is a minor operational hiccup. Whenever there is such technical issue and it takes up to 12 hours to resolve, it upsets supply and distribution chains, and that is what happened in this scenario because it created backlogs of loadings that could have been done earlier.

    “However, the problem has been resolved. One of the vessels berthed at the port loaded into our tanks yesterday (Thursday), another one will discharge today (Friday) and the third vessel will discharge tomorrow (today).

    “I advise the public not to embark on panic-buying as there is enough fuel. The gap in supply created by the technical problem will be closed within the weekend as our members are loading 24 hours through the weekend.

    However, an official of one of the depots owned by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), who did not want his identity disclosed, said it was slight scarcity.

    According to him, during the election period, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) did not make enough fuel imports. As a result of that shortage in import, there was not enough fuel to go round and the NNPC resorted to rationing what it had in stock.

    “If 10 depots are supposed to get supply from NNPC and only five depots were able to get at the end of the day, certainly, there must be a gap, and that is the reason you see queues at the filling stations.

    “For instance, there are marketers who have paid for fuel in our depot in the past two to three weeks, and they are yet to be loaded because of inadequate fuel. But I believe that supply shortfall will be addressed soon.

    “It is not something so serious. I assume it is a costly oversight on the part of the NNPC.”

  • DPR seals filling stations in Zaria, Hunkuyi

    DPR seals filling stations in Zaria, Hunkuyi

    The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), North West Zone has sealed two filling stations located in Zaria and Hunkuyi Local Government Areas in Kaduna State for selling Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at N190 per litre.

    The department in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Mallam Rabiu Bello said the Zonal Operations Controller, Alhaj Isah Tafida led a team, accompanied by Civil Defence operatives, to the sealed stations in Zaria and Hunkuyi, where he directed a reversal to government approved price of N145/litre and monitored sales.

    According to the statement, “As penalty, the companies were charged N100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) per pump to be paid directly into Federal  Government TSA account.

    “The stations were also suspended from lifting products for three months,” the statement read.

    The statement further said: “Tafida warned marketers who engage In sharp practices to desist or face stiffer sanctions, including withdrawal of their operating licences.”

    It assured of the agency’s resolve to intensify surveillance to ensure that products allocated to filling stations were delivered and sold to public at the government approved rate.

    The statement said that the agency had deployed it’s personnel to Zaria and other areas to monitor the sale of fuel in filling stations.

    DPR also appealed to the public to contact DPR through the telephone numbers provided on DPR website: www.dpr.org.ng if they observe any malpractices at any petrol filling station.

  • DPR seals 33 filling stations in Ogun for overpricing, others

    DPR seals 33 filling stations in Ogun for overpricing, others

    The Operations Director of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) at the Ogun Field Office, Mrs Muinat Bello-Zagi, yesterday said the agency has sealed 33 of 444 filling stations in the last seven weeks.

    Mrs Bello-Zagi said the affected stations were sealed because the owners allegedly overpriced, under-dispensed and hoarded Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol.

    The DPR director addressed reporters yesterday after the agency met with representatives of major and independent petroleum marketers in the state.

    She said two of the stations would be fined and barred from taking supply of PMS at the depot, for some time, for removing the seal on their stations.

    According to her, the DPR has continued to carry out surveillance and monitoring across the state.

    It said 75 per cent of stations were dispensing petrol to motorists.

    She said: “In Ogun State, the DPR has been on surveillance and monitoring of filling stations across the state.

    “We have been to Ogun-Waterside, Mowe-Ibafo, Ipokia, Ado Odo-Ota, Abeokuta metropolis, Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, among others.

    “Between January and February 22, we visited 444 filling stations across the state and we discovered that 245 stations out of this number were dispensing the PMS to motorists.

    “This shows that about 75 per cent of the filling stations were dispensing products to motorists.

    “However, also out of this number, 33 filling stations were sealed for either over-pricing, under-dispensing and hoarding. Two of them are located on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. These two filling stations were sealed but their owners removed our seal without recourse to us.

    “We have asked the depots not to supply them products. They will definitely pay fines for removing our seal,”

    Mrs Bello-Zagi also said the DPR had begun online monitoring of petroleum retail outlets in the state.

    She urged major and independent marketers not to hoard petroleum products while she warned the public against panic buying.

  • Petrol scarcity: no respite yet for motorists

    Petrol scarcity: no respite yet for motorists

    The lingering petrol scarcity is yet to abate in Benin metropolis as long queues persist in filling stations across the state capital.

    A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). who monitored the situation on Wednesday, observed that residents were also experiencing poor services from Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) of banks.

    NAN reports that although the pump price of the product has risen to between 240 and 260 per liter, only few stations have opened for business.

    NAN reports that the fillings stations currently dispensing the product were selling for between N240 and N260 depending on the location.

    The black marketers have reduced their prices from N3, 500 for 10 litre gallon to N3,000 following the increased number of stations now opened for business.

    The scarcity of the petrol has also affected transport fares in the state.

    While transport fares within the city have been slightly adjusted, that of inter-state and outside the state remained high.

    Transport fare to Auchi, which was N800, has been increased to between N1,700 and N2000, while from Benin to Benue State has risen from N4,000 to N8000.

    Transport fare from Benin to Lagos is now between N8,000 to N9,000 from the old fare of between N3,500 and N4,500 depending on the motor park.

    NAN reports that Edo Government had started monitoring sales of the product in collaboration with Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) before the Christmas celebration.

    The state government had earlier promised motorists “a hassle-free Yuletide celebration”.

    “Edo State has been sufficiently supplied with petroleum products and received a fresh 465,000 litres this weekend, in addition to the 296,000 litres loaded to the state on Tuesday this week.

    “Motorists and other users of petroleum products should refrain from panic buying that causes unnecessary queues at petrol stations and traffic congestion on major roads in the state.

    “Marketers are hereby warned to ensure judicious dispensing of allocated products as government will not hesitate to apprehend and prosecute any erring marketer,” it had said in a statement.”

    Residents are also lamenting the poor services of ATMs.

    Some of the residents, who spoke with NAN, decried the poor services, saying they had to keep vigil at the machine point as the awaited for bank officials to load the machines with cash.

    “It is sad that one has to experience this stress to have access to your money,” laments Ebidah John.

    Another resident, Adesuwa Usifo, said her visit to three locations of the machines revealed the same situation.

    “I have been out since around 7.30 a.m. and this is just past 11 a.m., yet I have not made any transaction.

    “I was close to withdrawing in one of the machines in another location, when it ran out of cash. Outside the cash issue, the network is terrible,” she cried.

    NAN observed that the trend started before Christmas.

  • DPR seals four petrol stations for price hike

    DPR seals four petrol stations for price hike

    Officials of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has sealed up four filling stations in Edo State for selling premium motor spirit otherwise known as fuel above government official approved prices of N145 per litre.

    The sealing of the filing stations followed outcry by members of the public that most filling stations were dispensing fuel at prices as much as N160 per litre.

    Affected filling stations were Foadal Oil at Airport road, St Taye Oil and Gas at New Benin, Asoline at Sapele road, Raptor oil and NIPCO Oil both at Upper Mission road.

    Mr Enelama Victor, Head of Downstream, DPR Benin Zone who led the operation around parts of Benin City; the Edo state capital said the current hike in prices of PMS was due to the unwholesome activities of racketeers and middlemen hoarding the products so as to tarnish the image of the federal government.

    Enelama said the federal government has not increase the price of fuel and that the distribution chain of the products by DPR was still being maintained.

    He added that fuel is still being loaded to all the depots across the country.

    The Benin DPR boss stated that his department was tackling the menace of racketeers and middlemen merchants in the industry which included the withdrawal of licences from marketers who engage in product hoarding and other unwholesome practices.

    He assured that government would ensure that the distribution chain of petroleum products were not altered by marketers and cautioned motorists and other consumers not to engage in panic buying.

  • DPR to shut unregistered petrol stations in Akwa Ibom

    The Eket Office of Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on Wednesday threatened to shut filling stations operating in the state without registering with DPR from August 31.

    Dr Joseph Frank-Briggs, its Operations Controller,  gave the warning at a meeting with officials of the Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Eket, Akwa Ibom.

    He said the office had noticed that the operators of some filling stations whose licence had expired had failed to renew them.

    “Any filling station that does not renew its licence by the end of August will pay the sum of N250, 000 before the operator is allowed to operate or be shut down.

    “To prevent any embarrassment, IPMAN members should display their renewed licences in their filling stations.

    “We want to stress that it is an offence not to display your licence in your filling stations,” Frank-Briggs said.

    Frank-Briggs frowned at marketers who were in the habit of adjusting their fuel pump to short change customers.

    He said any filling station under-dispensing petroleum products would face the wrath of the law.

    On the issue of kerosene explosion, he said that the department would partner IPMAN members to reduce adulterated petroleum products to the barest minimum.

    “DPR and IPMAN need to work together and see how the issue of kerosene explosion will be nib in the bud.

    “We cannot allow unscrupulous elements in the society to contaminate kerosene that will affect the lives of the people,” he said.

    Mr Ubong Isong, IPMAN Chairman of IPMAN in Akwa Ibom, expressed sadness over incessant kerosene explosions in the state.

    Isong said many families had been affected by such explosions.

    “From our investigation, no marketer had been involved in the adulteration of kerosene. The department should extend its investigations to surface tank operators in the state,” he said.

  • DPR to shut unregistered filling stations

    The Eket Office of Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) yesterday threatened to shut filling stations operating without registering with DPR from August 31.

    Dr. Joseph Frank-Briggs, its operations controller, spoke at a meeting with officials of the Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Eket, Akwa Ibom State.

    He said the office noticed that operators of some filling stations, whose licence had expired, failed to renew them.

    “Any filling station that does not renew its licence by the end of August will pay N250, 000 before the operator is allowed to operate or be shut down.

    “To prevent embarrassment, IPMAN members should display their renewed licences in their filling stations.

    “It is an offence not to display your licence in your filling stations,” Frank-Briggs said.

    He frowned at marketers fond of adjusting their fuel pump to short-change customers, saying any filling station under-dispensing petroleum products would be sanctioned.

    On kerosene explosion, Frank-Briggs said the department would partner IPMAN members to reduce adulterated petroleum products.

    “DPR and IPMAN need to work together and see how kerosene explosion will be stopped.

    “We cannot allow unscrupulous elements to contaminate kerosene that will affect the lives of the people,” he said.

    IPMAN Chairman in Akwa Ibom State Mr. Ubong Isong decried incessant kerosene explosions.

    He said families had been affected.

    “Our investigation shows no marketer has been involved in kerosene adulteration. The department should extend its investigations to surface tank operators,” Isong said.

  • Suspected thugs attack filling stations in Ado-Ekiti

    Suspected thugs attack filling stations in Ado-Ekiti

    •Property worth millions of naira destroyed

    Youths suspected to be political thugs on Monday attacked filling stations owned by marketers in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital.

    The marketers reportedly shut their outlets in deference to a directive by the leadership of unions in the oil sector.

    Property worth millions of naira were destroyed in the attack, which began about 7am.

    The hoodlums were armed with axes, cutlasses, bottles and other weapons.

    Governor Ayo Fayose, featuring in his monthly media chat, “Meet Your Governor”, on Monday night, said he had tried his best to restrain youths who came to the Government House, declaring their readiness to attack filling stations that refused to sell petrol to the public.

    He mentioned Sulaiman Akinbami, whom he accused of “coming from Osun State to cause problem in Ekiti State.”

    The governor accused petrol dealers of attempting to disrupt the funeral of ex-Military Governor of the defunct Western State  Maj.-Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo last weekend.

    The attack started at NIPCO Filling Station owned by the state Secretary of the Petrol Dealers Association of Nigeria (PEDAN), Alhaji Akinbami, whom the thugs accused of collecting N50 million from a political party. They alleged that he was the mastermind of the strike.

    The hoodlums destroyed refrigerators, smashed soft drinks and poured engine oil on the floor. They chased away attendants and caused panic.

    Two filling stations operated by Tetra Abby Company on Adebayo Road and Dallimore Street were vandalised by the thugs. They are owned by a marketer, Ade Bank.

    A worker at NIPCO Filling Station said: “The thugs came in three vehicles, one Hilux van with government’s number plate and two mini buses, popularly called Akoto. They chanted war songs, chased everybody away and disrupted traffic.

    “The hoodlums were armed with weapons. We escaped through the back fence because they were determined to kill.

    “The six dispensing machines were vandalised. Lubricants and other items were damaged.”

    Contacted on the phone, Akinbami alleged that his life was in danger.

    He denied collecting N50million from a party.

    Akinbami said: “The Ekiti State government has declared war against me and my family. My life is in danger. I’m hiding some where. I cannot say when I will come to Ekiti State. I’m from Osun State.

    Governor Fayose, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, called for restraint over attacks on petrol stations.

    He said: “Nobody should take the law into his hands.”

  • Lagos places embargo on approval for filling stations

    …Insists On Relocating Ikeja Computer Village, Okobaba Sawmill, Mile 12 Market

    The Lagos State Government has placed embargo on approval for construction of filling stations in all parts of the State till further notice, while a definite action will soon be taken on indiscriminate construction of event centres across the State, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Wasiu Anifowose has said.

    Anifowose, who said this on Tuesday at the ongoing Ministerial Press briefing in Alausa as part of activities marking the second-year anniversary of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration, said government had already resolved not to grant construction permit for filling stations pending the inventory of existing ones.

    Responding to issue of oil spillage in Alimosho, Anifowose said the decision of government was necessary in view of the need to take proper inventory of the existing filling stations with the view to determining those that should be removed, all in a bid to ensure public safety.

    According to him, “What happened in Alimosho was because of pipeline vandalism. If people have not been greedy to vandalize pipeline, we will not be seeing what is happening. But be rest assured that no permit for filling station in Lagos State till further notice. I have told the General Manager of the concerned agency; the management team of the agency has taken a decision and we will not grant any approval until we take inventory and see what we have.”

    He said the State Government was also working with the Federal Government to relocate Tank Farms in residential areas in Apapa, adding that a definite pronouncement would be made in that in regard in due course.

    The Commissioner also warned owners of structures under high tension cables to relocate in their best interest as government would spare no effort in removing such illegal structures, adding that Event Centres illegally located would also be demolished.

    He said: “When this government came on board, what we did was that we set up a Committee and they are going round the State to take inventory of Event Centres. I like to state categorically that any development that does not comply with the Master Plan of the area of location will be removed. So, our agency is already working on it and they should be able to give us report in the next three to four weeks.”

    Speaking on activities of the Ministry in the last one year, Anifowose said due to proactive steps and reforms initiated, the State Government, in the period under review, achieved considerable reduction in building collapse, and reiterated that it was still an offence in the State for any physical developments including renovation, fencing, demolition and so on to be embarked upon without approval.

    “I must urge all Lagosians to partner with the State Government in reporting illegal developments and developers or owners of buildings who cut corners and use substandard materials in construction work. Furthermore, it is considered a necessity that prospective buyers or tenants should demand for the Planning Permit or Layout Approval of a building or estate respectively before down payments are made, to deter developers or owners from circumventing the law,” Anifowose said.

    Besides, Anifowose said during the period under review, a total of 5,499 structures were served with Contravention and Stop Work Notices, while between May 2016 and February 2017, a total of 2,340 plans were submitted and out of which 1,078 were granted Planning Permits. Also, 242 applications for Planning Information were received; 174 approved, while others were being processed.

    In the last 23 months, the Commissioner said 30 provisional layout approvals were granted and 28 final layouts, while government embarked on preparation of development guide plans in Igborosun Excised village in Badagry, Ikola-Odunsi in Alimosho and 13 Excised villages were granted Approval-in-Principle within Ikorodu, Ibeju-Lekki and Eti-Osa.

    He said aside the fact that government has paid compensation on properties demolished for right of way for major projects, efforts are also ongoing to relocate Computer Village in Ikeja to world class ICT Park, Katangowa in Agbado/Oke-Odo, while efforts are in top gear to relocate Mile 12 Market to Imota and Okobaba Sawmill to Agbowa.