Yenagoa – The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) have launched a joint monitoring to discourage sharp practices by fuel dealers in Bayelsa.
The team visited the NNPC Mega Station, its franchise stations and some independent marketing outlets in Yenagoa to drive the campaign.
The Operations Controller of DPR in Bayelsa, Mr Asuquo Antai, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday that the surveillance became necessary following the profiteering attitude of the marketers.
He said the exercise which began on Monday would compel marketers who received fuel from the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) to sell at the approved pump price.
Antai said that more products were being allocated to the state but that the PPMC was yet to meet the daily requirement of 825,000 litres per day.
He said that the state received between 125,000 litres and 250,000 litres daily.
Antai said that the team which checked under dispensing of products, diversion and pricing, had compelled the stations to comply with the regulations.
He said that DPR had sanctioned 16 marketers for sharp practices within the past one week and would not relent in lawfully dealing with defaulters.
Earlier, the Bayelsa Commandant of NSCDC, Mr Desmond Agu, applauded the DPR for striving to ensure that the people of Bayelsa were not exploited by unscrupulous marketers.
He cautioned the illegal roadside fuel dealers or black marketers to desist from the act or risk forfeiture.
Agu promised adequate security for DPR officials in carrying out their regulatory functions. (NAN)