By Thompson ABISOLA
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has warned petroleum marketers against sharp practices capable of creating artificial scarcity of the product during and after the yuletide.
The Warri Zonal Operations Controller of DPR, Mr Asuquo Antai, gave the warning when he led a team of the regulatory agency on a sensitisation to some petroleum marketers on Wednesday in Asaba.
Antai said that the exercise was to sensitise the public and the retail outlets on why they should not hoard the product so as to have a hitch-free festivity.
He said that Federal Government had made sufficient arrangement to ensure availability of fuel throughout the festive period and beyond.
The controller appealed to the public not to panic or hoard petroleum and underdispensed the product, but should sell at the approved price of N145 per litre.
“You will recall that last year, we had a terrible experience in terms of fuel scarcity, and we do not want same to repeat this year.
“The department has deemed it fit to send DPR to the field to sensitive the public and marketers to ensure that they buy and sell at the government approved pump price of N145 per litre.
“We expect the public not to panic buy; the product is available, government has made sufficient arrangement to have enough petroleum for the festive period and beyond.
“The pump price would not be adjusted upward for any reason.
“If there is any adjustment, it should be downward, but the pump should dispensed accurately, it is very important.
“Also, the depot owners should ensure they sell at the government approved price to the marketers to enable them to sustain the current N145 per litre.
“We check the gauge of some petrol stations and discovered that they are dispensing accurately.
“We also check the undertanks of a petrol station who claimed not to have product and it was true,” he said.
Antai advised the managers of the filling stations inspected not to sell for consumers with 20, 25 or 50 litres of Jerry cans as that could lead to hoarding and by implication creating artificial scarcity.
He expressed satisfaction with the services of the petrol stations visited, urging them to keep it up.
Some of the petrol stations inspected included: Rainoil, Cherry Investment, NorthWest and Echemas Oil.
The Manager of Rainoil, Mr Larry Onwochei, , said he had improved on his services to the customers by way of operating 24 hours daily.
Onwochei said that he had regular supply of petroleum products.
