The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority’s Osun State office announced on Wednesday that it has closed up to 75 petrol stations in the state in the previous month due to a variety of violations.
According to The PUNCH, this was disclosed by the NMDPRA State Coordinator, Mr Kunle Adeyemo, who disclosed this while speaking with journalists on Wednesday.
Adeyemo added that during the month, the agency’s surveillance team visited 301 filling stations throughout the state and found that many of them lacked current operating permits.
“We sealed 75 filling stations operating without valid operational licences and for other infractions in the state in April. In line with the Federal Government directive, all petroleum marketers have till May 31 to get their valid licences.
“Any petroleum marketer, who fails to adhere to the May 31 deadline for obtaining their valid operational licences would be severely sanctioned.”
According to him, the agency’s surveillance team also noticed that many marketers were using their filling stations as “packing areas, cash washes, cash points, or are operating without safety facilities, engaging in pump adjustment, or using untrained attendants,” and he urged those who were doing this to stop.
“It is important to state that the charges for the above infractions had been increased by the Federal Government.
“We implore petroleum marketers to start conforming with the rules guiding the operation of filling stations in the state and also meet up with the May 31 deadline, as the NMDPRA surveillance team will be all out to monitor compliance. We urge all marketers to abide by the above to avoid being sanctioned,” he added.
