Nigeria's DPR shuts 100 gas stations
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) of Nigeria has closed about a 100 gas stations across the states of Oyo and Osun during the last week in a campaign aimed at penalizing operators who sell fuel above the official pump price of N87 per litre.
Apart from selling gasoline above the official rate, some of the gas stations have been found guilty of diverting petroleum products, tampering with meters and other illegal practices, reports Punch Nigeria.
The government´s aggressive scheme comes as the result of operating malpractices making fuel more expensive and frustrating the state´s efforts to offer Nigerian drivers accessible prices.
“The intention is to ensure that petrol filling stations sell at the normal government approved price. Petrol is available in the country and the government is doing enough to make sure that the product is never in short supply across the country, but some marketers will not just sell at the approved price as a result of greed,” said Olakunle Ogunlana, Operations Controller at DPR.
According to Punch Nigeria, some service stations with knowledge of imminent inspections lowered fuel prices from N100 and N120 to the stipulated N87.
