Eket (Akwa Ibom) – The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Akwa Ibom, has arrested 23 petroleum marketers in the area for allegedly selling fuel above government approved rate of N87 per litre.
Mr Asuqwu Antai, Controller Operations in charge of Akwa Ibom and Cross River, announced this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Eket on Wednesday.
Antai said that the marketers were arrested at their various filling stations on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.
He said that the department had earlier sealed their retail outlets for selling above government approved price but regretted that they allegedly violated the seal and continued to sell at above pump price.
“We were left with no option than to go out with the law enforcement agency to arrest them,’’ Antia said.
He explained that the arrest was made through the surveillance team of the department.
According to him, the marketers bought the petroleum product at N77. 66 ex-depots price and sold it at between N120 and N140 per litre in the state.
He said that the defaulters would pay a fine of N200,000 to government account and write an undertaking before their release from police custody.
“Whenever a retail outlet is sealed by the department and we observe that they are selling in spite of that, we will suspend their operations for a period of not less than six months,’’ Antai said.
The controller further warned retailers, IPMAN and major marketers against violating DPR regulations, adding that they would face the wrath of the law.
Antai said that companies would be held responsible and not depots representatives for diversion of fuel to other locations.
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“Whatever the agent does, the company will be held accountable for the actions of his or her agents; they should be mindful who they send to represent them at the depot.
“The depot representatives could not have lifted the products in company’s name without presenting a copy of the company’s licence in the first instance,’’ he said.
The controller reiterated that DPR would stabilise prices of petroleum products in the state, saying that enough products had been lifted from Calabar depots to various outlets in Akwa Ibom and Cross River.
He warned retailers and marketers to desist from buying the petroleum product from spot markets but from authorised dealers from depot at government rate. (NAN)