Date: 2013-01-18

Ilorin - The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on Thursday sealed up four filling stations in IIorin over alleged diversion of petroleum products and selling above the official pump price of N97 per litre of petrol.

Mr Amos Jokodola, the Kwara Operations Controller of  DPR, ordered the closure during a monitoring exercise in IIorin.

The affected filling stations were Mudram Oil, Bolman Petrol, Olutola and Sons, all on  Ajase-Ipo road, as well as RMT Gada Petroleum on  old Jebba road, IIorin.

The controller, who was accompanied by some DPR officials, said the affected filling stations engaged in sharp practices.

He said that the directorate had written series of letters to the state branch of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to warn their members against selling above the official pump price and other sharp practices.

Jokodola said the monitoring of the sale of fuel in the state would continue to curb sharp practices among petrol dealers.

He assured the residents that filling stations would be compelled to dispense fuel at the official pump price.

"The DPR will not compromise standard or allow filling stations cheat innocent members of the public.

"Other stations that fail to comply with laid down rules and regulations in any part of the state will be sanctioned,'' he said.

The state Chairman of IPMAN, Alhaji Bola Agbolade, however,  told NAN that he was not aware of the closure and the directive.

NAN reports that several filling stations in IIorin are  still selling petrol above the official pump price of N97 per litre