Following threat against any filling stations in the habit of hoarding fuel, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Kwara State on Sunday dispensed fuel to motorists and motorcyclists free of charge at two filling stations in Ilorin.
The erring filling stations, situated along Olorunsogo area, Ilorin and Otte, in Asa local government area, were caught hoarding a total of 4,600 litres of fuel known as premium motor spirit (PMS).
The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the surveillance team of the department swooped on the stations following tip off by concerned citizens that management of the stations was hoarding the commodity.
Acting on the information, the team led by Operation Controller of DPR, Mr. Salvation Philip, said the team uncovered large volume of fuel after the stations had allegedly told frustrated buyers that they had exhausted their stock.
It was pandemonium, as motorists and other buyers scrambled for the commodity when the DPR boss instructed that the fuel be sold free of charge in line with ministerial directive.
It took the intervention of security agents attached to the agency to control the unruly crowd of motorists and commercial motorcyclists.
Speaking with journalists after the exercise, DPR boss said the action of the department was in accordance with the directive of Minister of State for Petroleum.
He stated that the punitive measure would serve as deterrent to other hoarders that it was no longer business as usual.
Philip said the agency was poised to ensure that the commodity was properly distributed among commuters.
"We have out for surveillance because of the situation on ground, and we want to make sure that the fuel that comes in is distributed to commuters. When we got to this place (Alkad), we dug and discovered that they (management of the station) were hoarding 2300 litres of fuel
"So, we are simply enforcing the ministerial directive. We are giving the fuel free to fellow Nigerians that need it. It is a critical time, we have to utilize what is available. This is the second station so far we caught hoarding and the ministerial directive is that whichever station that is caught hoarding, fuel should be given free to the citizens.
"We want to use this to serve a very strong warning to all marketers that anybody caught hoarding, diverting or flouting petroleum laws and regulations, that infractions would be meted with the full wrath of the law.
"So, we are not joking about it. Let this serve as a deterrent to all intending hoarders of petroleum products. The situation is critical. We want to make sure that what is available is utilized. Any violation would not be tolerated by the Department of Petroleum Resources especially here in Kwara State.
"And I'm using this to send a very strong warning to marketers, desist from hoarding, desist from diversion because if you don't, appropriate sanctions would follow suit and I mean it with every sense of seriousness", the DPR boss said.
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