Osun State office of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, on Wednesday, said it shut as many as 75 filling stations for various infractions in the state within one month.
NMDPRA State Coordinator, Mr Kunle Adeyemo, who disclosed this while speaking with journalists on Wednesday on the activities of the agency in the month of April, said infractions committed by the operators include operating without a valid licence.
Adeyemo also said in the month, the surveillance team of the agency visited 301 filling stations across the state, during which it discovered that many filling stations were not operating with valid operational licences.
Speaking further, Adeyemo said “We sealed 75 filling stations operating without valid operational licences and for other infractions in the state in April. In line with the Federal Government directive, all petroleum marketers have till May 31 to get their valid licences.
“Any petroleum marketer, who fails to adhere to the May 31 deadline for obtaining their valid operational licences would be severely sanctioned.”
He said the surveillance team of the agency also observed that many marketers have turned their, “filling stations to packing space, cash wash, cash point, or are operating without safety facilities, engaging in pump adjustment, using untrained attendants,” and urged those engaging in such act to desist.
“It is important to state that the charges for the above infractions had been increased by the Federal Government.
“We implore petroleum marketers to start conforming with the rules guiding the operation of filling stations in the state and also meet up with the May 31 deadline, as the NMDPRA surveillance team will be all out to monitor compliance. We urge all marketers to abide by the above to avoid being sanctioned,” Adeyemo concluded.
