Sharp Practices: NMDPRA Seals Oil, Gas Retail Outlets In Delta

Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has sealed two petroleum retail outlets and two gas plants over sharp practices in Delta.

They were sealed by the surveillance team of the regulatory authority at the Asaba and Ibusa axis of the state.

The Delta State Coordinator of NMDPRA, Engr. Victor Ohwodiasa revealed on Thursday in Warri that the erring station’s offences bordered on under-dispensing, operating without valid licences and other illegalities within the filling stations.

The coordinator stressed that the authority would not tolerate a situation in which people were short changed due to under-dispensing and other illegalities.

Ohwodiasa called on petroleum marketers to ensure their metres are well-calibrated and sold accurately.

According to him, the awkward dealings included but were not limited to, under-dispensing, product quality, suspected diversion, illegal bunkering activities, and illegal discharge of unauthorised petroleum products in unauthorised locations.

“In line with our mandates, 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

“Based on what we have been doing to ensure the consumers are not shortchanged. We have been visiting retail outlets across the local government areas in the state to ensure sanity is brought and maintained within the retail outlets.

“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 whenever they notice any awkward transactions in dealing with the petroleum marketers for immediate actions.