The Department of Petroleum Resources at the weekend announced that it generated over N2trillion for the Federal Government last year, as its Abuja zonal office sealed up 11 filling stations for shortchanging motorists.
In his virtual keynote address at the 2021 Society of Petroleum Engineers Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum in Abuja, the Director, DPR, Auwalu Sarki, said the department had repeatedly exceeded its revenue target to government.
He said: “The DPR takes seriously its mandate to optimise revenues for government, serve as adviser to government on petroleum matters and implement applicable policy direction.
“DPR, for instance, continues to exceed government revenue target by embracing systems and processes that ensure transparency and accountability in oil and gas revenue generation, computation, collection, reconciliation and legacy debt recovery.
“Last year alone we generated over N2trillion for this country and we intend to exceed that value in this year.”
He noted that the agency’s commitment to exceed last year’s N2trillion remittance was despite the challenges encountered in the sector locally and internationally.
“All these are anchored on core principles of operational excellence that allows full flow of value to government,” Sarki stated.
This came as DPR’s Zonal Operations Controller, Abuja, Mr. Abubakar Buba, led a team on an enforcement drive against errant filling stations within and around Abuja.
Buba told journalists that within the space of 24 hours, the agency sealed at least 11 filling stations for dispensing petrol above the regulated price, manipulating their meters, as well as diverting the commodity.
He said there had been no increase in petrol price, adding that DPR would strive to halt hoarding, diversion, and adulteration, under-dispensing of products.
“As is part of our regular exercise, DPR will continue to intensify its surveillance activities on all retail outlets within the zone and violators will be sanctioned accordingly,” Buba stated.
