The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has detained 12 petroleum marketers in Kogi State for removing the seals of the Nigeria Mainstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
The arrest was made by the NSCDC Kogi Command on Friday when they went around in coordination with the NMDPRA surveillance team to check the activities of several fuel marketers whose filling stations had been sealed by NMDPRA for operating unlawfully.
In June, the NMDPRA shut down more than 50 filling stations in Kogi State for under-dispensing and operating without an NMDPRA storage and sale license.
The NSCDC Spokesperson, Alex Agiri said the 12 people arrested were guilty of under-dispensing and harassing NMDPRA officials tasked with regulating their responsibilities.
“The role of the NSCDC is to work with the NMDPRA to ensure that everything related to oil is handled with care, including dispensing, product location, and so on when a filling station is found wanting and sealed by this same Federal Government agency, it is against the rules for a marketer to go and remove the seal, harass, or even beat them.
“That is a heinous crime and the Federal Government frowns at it, and the NSCDC has the mandate to enforce this arrest in accordance with the established rules.”
Agiri, on the other hand, stated that the arrest should serve as a strong message to other marketers, emphasising that the NSCDC will work tirelessly with the NMDPRA to ensure that unlawful marketers and anyone involved in cutting corners are brought to justice.
In addition, the NMDPRA State Coordinator, Ogbe Godwin, stated that his surveillance team has been harassed on a regular basis by some marketers who have broken the law.
“Our surveillance team must have unrestricted access to all oil and gas facilities in Kogi State, free of fear or intimidation from any source.” Marketers who tamper with NMDPRA seals will be reported to law enforcement for further prosecution.
“Marketers are hereby advised to adhere to all approval gates and upload all relevant documents required for the storage and sales license of their facilities.”
He then stated that the marketers that have gone against the policies of the government by tampering with NMDPRA seals will be sanctioned and the sum amount will be paid to the federation account or risk jail term as enshrined in the law.
