The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has allayed fears of Nigerians, especially Plateau citizens that there might be scarcity of fuel during the yuletide season.
According to the DPR, there is about 30 million litres of fuel in stock at the Jos depot alone, just like in some other strategic depots across the country.
Addressing journalists after going round to monitor the sales of the product in filling stations across the Jos metropolis, Operations Controller of DPR Jos office, Mr. Jerome Agada said: “As we approach the yuletide we want to sustain the normalcy at filling stations particularly in Plateau state where we’ve passed through some flash of crisis in the past.”
He added: “The department is out visiting retail outlets and today we’ve gone round a number of stations to ensure that their operational efficiency in terms of pump deliveries and functionality of their facilities comply with standard regulations; and out of the stations visited, six of them have committed sanctionable offences.”
The stations, according to him included Mobil Filling Station, opposite Plateau State Polytechnic, Jos Campus, where pumps were sealed for under-dispensing; AI’ Olabah Oil Co Nigeria Limited and Tonimas Filling Stations, Anglo-Jos – they were either under dispensing or their pump nozzles were malfunctioning.
Similarly, at Total Filling station, Dadin-Kowa, Jos, and NNPC Mega Filling Station, Secretariat Junction, their pumps were also sealed for under-dispensing.
Agada said: “They will be expected to pay the appropriate fines after which their sealed pumps will be unsealed,” adding that DPR will sustain the tempo of the surveillance through the Christmas period into the New Year.
Advising the affected stations to quickly attend to the issues that led to sealing off their pumps, the controller warned them, especially the major marketers, to desist from such sharp practices that could attract sanctions from DPR.
He also assured that there was no need for apprehension and panic buying since there were about 16 trucks of fuel coming into Plateau state on daily basis.
He added: “These strategic depots that store PMS can supply fuel to make up for any gap as we approach Christmas season, and as at the end of October, we had about 30 million litres of PMS in the Jos depot.
“NNPC has also assured that there is over 1.9 billion litres of PMS across the country to cater for any shortage that may arise for any reason.”
