Motorists in Ilorin, Kwara State, have accused petrol stations and outlets belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of engaging in sharp practices.

The motorists alleged that what they got was less than what they paid for. Some of the motorists who spoke with our correspondent lamented that sharp practices by the government-owned stations had worsened fuel crisis in the state.

Daily Trust reports that only the NNPC petrol stations dispense at the official price of N87 per litre while the independent marketers were selling as high as N140 per litre until they recently reverted to N100 per litre.

A commercial motorist who spoke to Daily Trust correspondent after buying fuel at an NNPC station along Tanke Ilorin alleged that the station deliberately adjusted their facilities, saying, "I bought N1000 fuel but it didn't reflect in my fuel pump".

He said the station refused to sell for buyers with gallons or jerry cans "so as not to expose their hanky-panky".

State Chairman of National Union of Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Issa Ore confirmed the development, saying the union has received series of complaints about NNPC stations 'adjusting' their pumps.

Meanwhile, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has been working to ensure that all petrol stations in the state sell at the official price of N87 per litre.

Operations Controller of the state DPR, Engineer Amos Jokodola, who spoke on the development, said the agency would not hesitate to close down any station found to be cheating innocent citizens.

Speaking through the acting Deputy Manager, Retails Outlets, Mr Ishola Joshua, the Operations Controller warned filling stations selling fuel at N100 per litre to desist forthwith.