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Seven filling stations in Ibadan were on Wednesday sealed by a Joint Task Force of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the Oyo State Government and the Nigeria Sexurity and Civil Defence Corps.
The team went round the metropolis to enforce the N145 per litre pump price and the directive against hoarding of petroleum products.
Among the filling stations sealed were Kesbash Oil Nigeria Limited, SWORT Oil & Gas, Oduwoye Global Services Ltd, JOSFRAD International Venture, ROYLAB International Venture and BALEY Nigeria Limited.
Mr Sadiq Ibrahim, the Deputy Controller, DPR, Oyo State Office told newsmen that the essence of the monitoring exercise was to check the hoarding of the product and hike in the price.
He said: “Those filling stations caught hoarding the product would be charged for hoarding, while those who are selling above pump price would also be sanctioned.
“This is because government has not increased pump price. What we have been able to do is to compel those hoarding to sell to the public at pump price and later seal them”.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s Special Adviser on Community Relations, Abidemi Shiyanbade, told journalists that the governor had directed the constitution of the task force to check the hardship faced by residents in getting the product.
“The governor has directed that the task force check for marketers hoarding the product and those selling it above the pump price. “What we have discovered is that some of the have and not selling, while some are selling above pump prices in the night.
“ The synergy with DPR is to check their dump and force those who have it to sell at stipulated pump prices to the public.
“We will not stop on the exercise until the marketers comply with the regulations. We won’t not allow people take laws into their hands,’’ he said.