Aside the directive to dispense free fuel to the public at any petrol station hoarding the product given to the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the body will be further empowered to shut down erring stations.
The Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru made this known on Tuesday in Ogun state at the commissioning of Petrolex’s 300-million litres tank firm in Ibefun, Ogun state.
Baru blamed the resurgence of queues at petrol stations on the activities of independent marketers bent on hoarding the product in anticipation of scarcity.
He said: “We must have noticed the sudden return of fuel queues in some parts of the country last week; this is unfortunately attributable to the activities of some independent marketers who are hoarding the product in anticipation of perceived (increase in) price of petroleum product.
“We’ve said it time and time that the government and NNPC has no intention of increasing the price of petroleum at this moment.
“Moving forward however, DPR will be more aggressive in curtailing this menace by sealing any petrol station found hording petroleum products. The products will be dispensed to motorists free of charge, so be on notice.”