By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Eket Field office, said it has sealed a petrol station belonging to the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom Petroleum Products Monitoring Committee (PPMC), Mr Godwin Ekpo.
It also sealed four other stations belonging to other fuel marketers in Uyo, the state capital.
Mr Ikechukwu Eseka, the State Coordinator of NMDPRA disclosed this to newsmen in Uyo yesterday after routine surveillance operations in different parts of the state.
Eseka said the filling station of the PPMC chairman was sealed due to non-possession of an operating license and selling of products illegally and wondered where he obtained the product from.
“This is the clear case of diversion of products of about 15,000 litres of suspected fuel being sold at his filling station.How, from who and how did he get PMS to sell as the directive of NO LICENSE, NO LOADING depots was still in force.” He said.
He noted that the filling station belonging to Ekpo was selling the diverted product from two pumps.
The other four filling stations he said were sealed for various infractions, such as under dispensing, poor housekeeping, and modification of station and rebranding without obtaining the necessary approvals the from NMDPRA.
The state Coordinator noted that the filling stations would remain sealed until they pay necessary fines to the Federal Government.
