The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says any filling station indulged in sharp practices or deliberately refuse to sell fuel in large quantity in order to create artificial scarcity, stands the risk of being sealed off.

NNPC Group Public Relations Manager, Dr Levi Ajuonoma sounded this warning when officials of the corporation visited Kano State to assess the fuel situation in the state.

Ajuonoma was critical of  managers of some filling stations in Kano for indulging in sharp practices which have inflicted hardship on motorists in the area.

He described as unacceptable the action of some filling stations to deny customers access to petroleum products.

The NNPC, as a responsible agency will not allow such practice to flourish,” he said, and warned that the Department of Petroleum Resources would sea off erring filling stations.

Ajuonoma said the supply situation  nationwide is robust and wondered why customers in Kano should panic and waste their time queuing up to buy petrol.

He noted the improved fuel situation in the commercial city, adding that the long  queues  that were noticeable some weeks ago had disappeared.

The NNPC spokesman assured Nigerians of steady fuel supply during the forthcoming Sallah and Christmas celebrations which would be celebrated in November and December respectively.

The fuel situation in Kano State last week worsened resulting in long queues  noticed in the few filling stations that were selling the commodity.

In related development, residents of Eket in Akwa Ibom have cried out over scarcity of kerosene  in the town. A litre of kerosene now sells for between N200 and N250 from N80 it was sold in the black market  before the  scarcity.

Some of the residents who spoke with newsmen in Eket said they were disturbed by the development because a substitute to kerosene was not easily available in Eket except in the neigbouring  villages.

“We expect the government to step in and ensure that kerosene becomes available to discourage the use of firewood”, Udeme Ifak, a housewife said.

Sanimgo  Etukakpan, a community leader, accused fuel station operators of profiteering and exploiting the helpless masses. He also accused the NNPC for being insincere to the plight of fuel users saying that the scarcity of kerosene has affected the prices, of food in most restaurants in the area.

Ijeoma Ike