Some members of the Independent Petroleum Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) yesterday obstructed the activities of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
They alleged high handedness on the part of the DPR Operations Controller , Mr. Philip Salvation.
The IPMAN members led by their Chairman, Alhaji Okanlawon Olanrewaju trailed DPR team which was
monitoring and enforcing compliance with regulatory prices and unsealed the seal placed on
some Petroleum stations by the DPR for various violations.
During their monitoring exercise, the DPR officials had directed the selling of fuel to motorists after uncovering at least 2,000 litres of fuel in the tank of Super Moon station at Offa garage.
The monitoring team also inspected the underground tank in another filling station in the same area where they discovered at least 10,000 litres of fuel.
IPMAN members however alleged that since the last seven months that the DPR Controller Operations was deployed to the state, all his actions were to force them out of business.
They questioned why they were being compelled to sell the products at the recommended prices after buying from private depots at higher rates.
The oil marketers also accused the DPR boss of being too rigid, claiming that he had refused to discuss the problems with them.
Reacting to the development, the DPR Controller Operations in Kwara State, Mr. Philip Salvation
insisted that the agency will not allow Petroleum marketers to sell above the official pump prices in the state.
He stressed that the Federal Government is presently importing fuel and cannot therefore allow the product to be sold at higher price.
He insisted that those who disturbed or prevented the body from performing its responsibility would answer to the security forces whom he said witnessed the incident.
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