The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Warri Zonal Office, has recently taken decisive action by sealing six petrol retail outlets and an unauthorized gas refilling plant due to their involvement in fraudulent activities in Delta State.
Mr. Goziem Chukwurah, Head of Operations in the Warri office, led a surveillance team from the regulatory authority to seal the stations located in Uvwie and Udu Local Government Areas.
Reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), these filling stations were sealed primarily for offenses related to under-dispensing petroleum products and operating without proper licenses.
Among the stations sealed were Bwede filling station, Pius A Idoghor Oil and Gas, Eshegbe Oil, Fetega Oil, and Sole Energy Enterprise, all located in Orhuwhorun town, Udu Local Government Area. Falcon Bay Oil, situated at PTI junction, and another Falcon Bay Oil located on the DSC expressway in Uvwie Local Government Area were also included.
Speaking on behalf of the NMDPRA Coordinator in Delta, Mr. Victor Ohwodiasa, Chukwurah addressed the media at the end of the operation. He emphasized that the aim of the exercise was to ensure that consumers receive fair value for their money.
Chukwurah reported, “Most of the petrol stations we visited were selling without operational licenses. Consequently, we have shut them down and summoned the owners to our office. We sealed six petrol retail outlets and an illegal gas plant due to various offenses, including lack of operational licenses and under-dispensing of petroleum products to consumers.”
Ohwodiasa encouraged consumers to report any petroleum marketer involved in fraudulent activities to the regulatory body for appropriate action. He assured the public that this operation would continue until all marketers comply with regulations.
Additionally, Ohwodiasa warned marketers to refrain from engaging in illegalities to avoid the closure of their stations.
In a separate incident, a staff member of Falcon Bay Oil was apprehended for violating the NMDPRA’s seal on their dispensing machine. The suspect has been handed over to the appropriate authority for prosecution.
