For selling above recommended prices, the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR in Borno on Thursday sealed 22 petrol stations in the capital, Maiduguri.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that long queues are common sight in most filling stations in Maiduguri, with illegal hawkers (black marketers) selling five litres of petrol for N2, 000 to transporters.
Mr Bala Musa, the DPR acting Comptroller in the Zone, said that the stations were sealed during an operation by the task force team of the agency between Feb. 1 and Feb. 8.
Musa attributed the perennial scarcity to rumours that the product would be scarce in the country.
“Some of the petrol stations supporting the artificial scarcity in the town have been sanctioned and are temporarily banned from operating.
“The sealed stations, whose offences include overpricing, under-delivery and lack of adequate security apparatus in their filling stations, will have to pay a fine before the ban is lifted,” he said.
He explained that as at Feb. 8 no fewer than 34 filling stations had abundant product and were selling to the public.
“Petrol stations on Damboa Road and Maduganari bypass like NNPC Mega station, Umar Gamaye Tafament, BG Musa and KABS filling station, among others, all have the product and are dispensing,” Musa said.
Mr Sunday Oghene, the Sales Representative of the Maiduguri NNPC Mega station, told NAN that the station had received over 290,000 litres of petrol within one week.
Oghene said that the station was opened to the public between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily.
“People should not panic; the NNPC mega station will continue to endeavour to meet their demands and end petrol scarcity in Maiduguri.
“We have abundant product in stock and another truck of 45 litres of PMS is on its way,” Oghene said.
NAN