By Adewale Sanyaolu
For engaging in hoarding of petrol and profiteering, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has sealed off Hudson Petroleum facility in Calabar, Cross River State.
And to serve as a deterrent to other petroleum marketers, DPR equally slammed a fine of N10 million on the firm and suspended it from engaging in marketing and other petroleum related activities for the next three months. According to DPR, the suspension order, was in line with its new sanctions regime recently issued.
The regulatory agency explained that the sharp practices involving Hudson Petroleum, was discovered during a routine surveillance drive carried out under the Eket, Akwa Ibom, Field Office.
‘‘DPR investigations revealed that despite receiving 13,606,064 litres of the product in the depot late in December 2015, the operator still contrived to load out very sparingly and was in addition selling at N95.00 per litre, thereby violating government’s stipulated ex-depot price of N76.50 kobo. Being mindful of the need to ensure availability of products, especially PMS to the public at all times to ease the attendant hardship, DPR made several attempts to compel the depot to increase the volume and frequency of truck-out and also to revert to the official ex-depot price, but the company persisted in that unwholesome practice.
Consequently, the depot has been placed under seal specifically for selling above the regulated depot price and for hoarding of PMS. It has also been mandated to pay the punitive fine of ten million naira (N10,000,000.00) only, and in addition, suspended from operations for 3 months in accordance with the new sanctions regime recently issued by DPR,’’the agency stated. Recall that the DPR, Warri Zonal Office had last week Thursday, impounded a truckload of petroleum over alleged diversion of products, just as it sealed 15 petrol stations over offences bordering on under-dispensing, hoarding and receiving diverted products in Delta and environs.
The Assistant Director of Operations, DPR Warri Zonal Office, Mr. Ovadje Obukaroro, said the truck was impounded at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Aladja retail outlet, Udu Local Government Area of the State.
He said that five filling stations were sealed, three shut and seven were also closed, adding that five petroleum marketers were forced to dispense fuel free to the masses for under-dispensing, while three persons were apprehended during the exercise for violating the downstream sector rules.