By: Felix Ikpotor
A combine team from the Rivers State Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and the Petroleum Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria has sealed-off three fillings stations in Port Harcourt following their involvement in sharp practices.
The filling stations were found to be under dispensing, hoarding and also collecting fifty naira stamp duties as against the directive of the government.
The team was led by the State Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Peter Medee.
He said the government cannot sit back and allow the outlet owners inflict hardship on people of the state.
“ we have been receiving series of complain about sharp practices by those dispensing petroleum products in Rivers State and we have been doing a lot of sensitization, we have also written and we have engaged the leadership of their unions and associations and we have appealed to them that they must do this business inline with best practices. Now, instead of them to reciprocate, what we now see is that stations are hoarding products, they are under dispensing and doing a lot of unsafe practices. Today we came here and we observed that this station is collecting fifty naira stamp duties”.
Medee advised Rivers people to report filling stations selling above pump prices or under dispensing to the ministry for prompt action.
“This is a clarion call for others who are still involved in sharp practices, the ministry is ready. We now have front desk officers with dedicated phone numbers. Every motoring public, whoever buys fuel in Rivers State is advised to call our ministry and report any sharp practices, we will not take it from them, we will seal off the station until you’re ready to do business in Rivers State then we will support you but if you want to shortchange the people through sharp practices, selling of adulterated products and other unsafe practices they we are not going to take it from anybody”.
On his part, the Public Relations Officer of the Petroleum Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter, Kanu Adison advised members of the association to operate inline with stipulated laws.
