DPP seal off five Petrol Stations in Anambra State

The Department of Petroleum Resources Anambra State has sealed five petroleum stations in Awka for operating below standard while eleven pumps were put out of use for under-dispensing.

They were also sealed for various sharp practices and lack of adequate safety facilities capable of endangering lives.

The Anambra State Operations Controller, Engineer Ignatius Anyanwu, carried out the exercise when a team of the department accompanied him on routine Surveillance of petroleum and gas stations in Awka.

Our correspondent who was part of the Surveillance team , reports that the essence of the routine surveillance and monitoring which covered thirteen stations was for the DPR to ensure sustainable development of Nigeria’s Oil and gas resources across the value chain through effective regulation, while entrenching world class professionalism, accountability and transparency.

Engineer Anyanwu who rated the level of pump metering in Awka as impressive, however, regretted the nonchalant attitude of some stations to safety management.

He said this was why the agency has issued warnings and sealed the affected stations until they are able to understand that safety is very crucial considering the danger petroleum products pose on the society if not controlled.

On the issue of adulteration and diversion, the Anambra State Operations Controller urged the state citizenry to report such incidents to the agency for appropriate sanctions and added that some gas plants were sealed off for carrying out operations that has no safety practice.

Also speaking, the State Chairman, Petroleum Dealers Association of Nigeria, Chief Obi Okafor, noted that the Surveillance exercise will serve as sensitization and enlightenment to marketers and frown at the rate of unhygienic and lack of safety facilities in some stations.

Reacting to the impact of the Surveillance monitoring by DPR team, a commercial bus driver, Mr. Chibueze Mbam, commended what he described as huge intervention by DPR and wondered how quantities of petrol bought never commensurate with what was paid for and asked for the sustenance of the exercise.

During the exercise, filling stations with pardonable pump metering were given few days from the day of the visit to service their pump machines while other pumps which were dispensing below standards were sealed off.

Those who maintained the approved standard were applauded and urged to continue setting good examples for others to emulate.

Credit: ABS News