Abia Govt. To Sanction Erring Petrol Stations

Chief Don Ubani, Abia Commissioner for Petroleum Resources and Solid Minerals, said the State Government would sanction petrol stations selling above government approved rates.

Ubani said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Umuahia.

He regretted that filling stations other than the NNPC Mega Stations, had constantly defied directives to sell the products at government approved rates.

He warned that government would not condone undue exploitation of residents of the state by some petroleum marketers.

Ubani said that the ministry, in liaison with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), was mapping out strategies to ensure that the petroleum marketers complied with the directive.

He said government had made an unprecedented effort to bring the NNPC Depot in Osisioma back on stream in order to reduce the suffering of the people.

'It is for a time like this that the NNPC depot in Osisioma was revitalized.

'All the petroleum products are in stock in the depot and I don't see the reason why some marketers will be so bent on this type of exploitation.

'We have already set up a task force to monitor their activities and anyone caught will be blacklisted,' Ubani said.
NAN reports that Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) sells at between N120.00 and N115.00, per litre,while Gasoline sells at N160.00, and kerosene sales at N140.00 across the state.

Only the NNPC mega stations and few major marketers sell at the official rates, though the supply of gasoline and kerosene in such petrol stations is epileptic. (NAN)