DPR seeks partnership with Civil Defence in enforcing new FG pump price

The Management of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Abia State has expressed the desire of the government agency to partner the State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to ensure that marketers of petroleum products in the state complied with the new federal government approved petroleum pump price.

Mr. Iheji Nestor (Operations Controller) stated this during the DPR’s courtesy call on the state commandant of the NSCDC, Barr. Nnamdi C. Nwannukwu, at the command’s headquarters in Umuahia, the state capital.

While appreciating the corps in the State for the support it has been giving to the DPR over the years noted that the two government agencies can do more with improved partnership.

Mr. Nestor thereafter requested for greater collaboration with the Corps in the state especially in the area of enforcement of the Federal Government approved new PMS pump price and related issues.

He noted that some unscrupulous businessmen will not comply with the downward pump price adjustment except by enforcement.

In his response, while assuring him of the readiness of the Command to continue in its synergy with other Sister Security Agencies in the state noted that such cooperation will foster sustainable peace in Abia State.

The State Commandant while drawing the attention of his august visitor to the sections of the NSCDC Acts empowering the Corps to protect Petroleum Pipelines and other Critical National Assets/ Infrastructures of Government advised Nestor to always partner with NSCDC to enable both federal agencies of government to fulfill their mandates.

Meanwhile, residents of the state have urged DPR and other relevant agencies in the state to ensure that activities of petrol station owners who they accused of criminally adjusting their pump meters.

According to some of the residents including a commercial motorist that simply gave his name Mr. Onyebunwanne said that although the majority of the petrol stations display N125, the content they dispense to their customers is far below the new pump price.

Nwabunwanne called for the arrest and prosecution of any of the petrol station owners who is found culpable of shortchanging members of the public.

In another development, the Comptroller Abia State Fire Service, Mr. Gbaruko Victor says that it has come to the notice of the State Government that a lot of people are stockpiling petroleum products as a result of the lockdown of the State.

Mr. Victor who warned against the dangers of hoarding of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) in residential buildings and offices said that it was unnecessary for residents of the state to engage in panic buying and storing of petroleum products at home.

“Be reminded that filling stations and gas plants are exempted from the stay-at-home order. Therefore, it is unnecessary to engage in panic buying.”

However, the State Fire Services have been mandated to watch closely to avoid the situation which may eventually result into avoidable outbreak.