The authorities of the
Department of Petroleum Resource, have solicited for the collaboration of consumers of petroleum products and members of the general public in its fight against fraudulent marketers in Port Harcourt.
The Zonal Operations Controller of DPR in Port Harcourt, Mrs  Onyebuchi  Sibeudu made the call on Friday in Port Harcourt while reacting to the alarm raised by Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN) in Rivers State that massive sealing of petrol filling stations in the state by DPR would result to products scarcity.
The DPR boss vowed to sustain the clampdown on erring stations until all resort to selling at the government  approved pump price of N87.00 per litre.
She said out of 476 filling stations visited since the action began on 14th August 2015, about 66 defaulting stations were sealed.
She mentioned selling above official pump price,  tampering of metre, (under dispensing) and diversion amongst other reason as the causes of sanction.
Sibeudu noted that as at Thursday 11 out of the 66 filling stations had been unsealed as the erring petrol stations had resorted to the DPR’s demands, including payment of fines.
The DPR told newsmen that there was no going back on sanctions against any filling station caught contravening the official standard.
She waved aside the reason given by  IPMAN that  its members were buying above stipulated price  at the depots and tank farms and would be running at huge loss if they sell at the N87.00 official pump price per litre.
Sibeudu advised the marketers to avoid buying from places that would require them to sell above the official price, stressing that DPR as a regulator was out to ensure that operations conform with the government laid down rules.
She called on consumers and members of the public to report any filling station selling above the N87.00per litre price to the DPR offices and promised that appropriate and timely action would be taken against such stations.
She also warned that any filling station that deliberately closes its gates against officials of DPR or stops selling even when it has the products stands the risk of being sealed.

Chris Oluoh