DPR: 94% of filling stations now complying with new fuel price

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) says 94 percent of filling stations have complied with the new petrol price of between N121.50 to N123.50 per litre.

Abubakar Buba, the Abuja zonal operations controller of the DPR, disclosed this while conducting a monitoring exercise of fuel retail outlets in the federal capital territory (FCT).

Buba expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance by oil marketers, noting that it would sanction any actor within the downstream sector flouting the rules.

He said the reason the agency is pushing for compliance is to ensure that marketers do not sell above the designated price range, under-dispense to motorists or divert the products to neighbouring states.

Buba disclosed that of the 36 petrol retail outlets visited so far, only two were found selling above N123.50 which are, Rahamaniyya Oil and Gas; and Mpape and Yinzag Petroils, Mabushi.

He said the two petrol retail outlets were sealed off, sanctioned and have been directed to comply with the new prices, after which they would be reopened.

Speaking on the complaints of contaminated diesel being sold in some locations across the country, Bubu said officials from the agency have visited different locations to collect samples of the products and it is currently waiting for the results of the tests conducted on the samples.

“We have received a lot of complaints; some of them we visited and took a sample, and we are now waiting for the analysis. Although the laboratory scientists are not available now, the few management staff that we have are trying to make sure that they do the analysis.”