DPR warns marketers against fuel price hike, hoarding during Easter

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) Field Office in Enugu says petroleum marketers who sell products above government approved prices risk having their stations sealed.

Mr Anthony Douji, the Head, Retail Outlet and Marketing in the field office, gave the advice on Thursday in Enugu in an interview with the newsmen.

Douji said that the DPR would ensure that petroleum marketers complied with the directive of the NNPC to make products available for Easter celebration.

Douji said that the office had started monitoring compliance, adding that petrol stations must not sell above the regulated price.

He said that the intention was to ensure product availability during the festivity.

“We observed that while some petrol stations are selling at the regulated price, others sold above it. However, we prevailed on them to revert and they did.

“Our intention is to ensure that the products are available and not to create tension and artificial scarcity by sealing petrol stations that are defaulting.

“By the time you start sealing petrol stations, some of the marketers will start diverting products to areas where they will not be monitored.

“So, the best way is to encourage them to revert to government approved prices,” he said.

Douji, however, warned that the DPR would not hesitate to seal stations that failed to revert to the regulated price after initial contact.

“We have been receiving calls from members of the public about petrol stations selling above the regulated price and we shall seal such stations should they fail to revert,” he said.

SOURCE: ripplesnigeria