The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in Collaboration with Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) have given out Premium Motor Spirit, known as Fuel free to Motorists in Abuja.
DPR on Tuesday arrested and sealed off a filling station, named Khalif Civic Oil and Investment Limited in Kubwa, a suburb of Abuja, for selling above the N145 pump price.
The Abuja Zonal Controller of the department, Mr Mohammed Abba said the report about the station, was gotten on a tip-off by a good Samaritan.
”The station had 6,000 liters of petrol. We got the call from a good Samaritan.
“When we came, we realised the station is illegal because it is not licensed and it was selling at N250 per liter.
”We instructed that the product should be dispensed free of charge.
”We will give them one month to come and regularise the license, after that if he does not come we will hand over the station and the people concerned to the civil defence to prosecute,” Abba said.
He added that ideally, the station should have gotten its licence before putting up the structure.
”That’s why we call it an illegal station. It is double impunity as if there’s no government in this country.
”Anyone that wants to build a filling station should first of all obtain a licence. This one did not follow due process,” he said.
In his remarks the Group Managing Director, NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru said that the product had to be dispensed free to motorists to serve as deterrent to others who engage in such illegal act.
“This collaborative effort of the DPR, Civil Defence and NNPC is to identify stations that are erring in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive for us as agencies to fish out those perpetuating the fuel scarcity.
”This was discovered by the DPR on a tip-off. Government is appreciative and wants Nigerians to come forward with such information on where products are sold above N145”.
Also speaking, the NSCDC Assistant Comptroller-General Mr Aminu Abdullahi said ”what the DPR did is a welcome development but the illegality is criminality.
”I have directed the arrest of the manager and the owner of the filling station so that action would be taken appropriately,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at the entry of the team into Byazhin area, where the filling station is located, shouts of ‘Sai Baba’ rented the air as DPR had been dispensing the product free since afternoon.
NAN spoke to a motorist who affirmed that he had gotten 20 liters of petrol free of charge.
”I had been on the queue since 4 a.m. When I got close, there was a little commotion and we heard that they had started giving it (petrol) out for free.
”I just go and it is true,” he told NAN.
A Bike rider popularly called ‘Okada’ could not contain his elation and continually chanted sai Baba as be said ”I didn’t pay. Its good for them, they always sell at a high price always”.
Another DPR staff who led the arrest told NAN under anonymity that ”each car will get 20 liters free and each bike five liters.
”This is to stall those that would want to get petrol and queue up again”.
NAN reports that the team had also made arrests in the city center in Christmas day on another ating operation. (NAN)
