AS fuel scarcity lingers across the country, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), has said it has sealed 96 filling stations in Kano and Jigawa States for selling the product above the official price of N145 per litre and also for engaging in shady business
Speaking with pressmen on Friday, the Operations Comptroller in charge of Kano and Jigawa States, Mr Buba Abubakar, disclosed that six out of the total number have been shut down for six months with a fine of N1 million naira placed on them for perpetually selling above the pump price, after series of warning and violation of seal order.
He disclosed that the 96 stations were shut between December, 2017 and February 13 this year.
His words: “Most of the filling stations have paid their fines, which is normally N270 naira per liter of fuel multiply by the quantity of fuel for which the filling station is found wanting,” Abubakar stated.
According to him, the operations were carried out by the DPR surveillance teams involving the Directorate of State Security (DSS) and other security agencies.
The comptroller, however, lamented that Kano and Jigawa States are currently being under supplied with petroleum products, saying they have on the average just about 30 per cent and 20 per cent respectively as their daily supplies.
Abubakar disclosed that the DPR is working to halt the activities of some taxi drivers and okada riders who engage in buying at the official price only to take it to black marketers who in turn sell at high prices.
“Kano for example needs about 87 trucks of 33,000 liters per day to meet the needs of the city but currently we are only getting between 30 per cent, while Jigawa is getting only 20 per cent of its daily need. But the supply is gradually being increased by the NNPC with the addition of one or two trucks on some days,” he said.
He, however, denied the allegation of connivance with marketers who sell above the pump price to the public.
He said despite the shortfall, that the DPR is working round the clock to ensure that the quantity of fuel giving to the two states is well-monitored for effective distribution and sale to the public at the official pump price.