DPR FCDA Partner To End Illegal Filling Stations

The Department of Petro
leum Resources (DPR) says it is planning to collaborate with the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to get rid of illegal filling stations in the Federal Capital Territory
The DPR Zonal Spokesperson, Mr Mohammed Saidu, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja last Thursday.
Saidu said that the department was worried about the existence of many illegal filling stations within and outside Abuja.
The spokesperson said the DPR was working out modalities to ensure that illegal retail outlets were moved out of Abuja and environs by following due process.
He said the agency did not have the mandate to demolish illegal structures, but could work with the appropriate authorities to do so.
Saidu said before DPR could grant approval to build a filling station, there must be an endorsement from the Town Planning Authority for such a purpose.
“The DPR normally does not grant approval for construction of filling station if the site is not approved by the development authority,” he said.
According to him, all retail outlets that do not have town planning authority’s approval and DPR’s endorsement are illegal.
He said that the illegal outlets are those that constituted nuisance whenever there was fuel scarcity, alleging that such outlets often indulged in different sharp practices.
Saidu said the agency had discovered 67 illegal retail outlets in the Federal Capital Territory and Niger State as at December 2014.
He said that some of them had been regularised and called on the owners of outlets that were yet to regularise to do.
“All illegal retail outlets that have town planning authority’s approval should come forward for immediate regularisation,” he said.