TheCable

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) says it has set up a 24-hour special task force to supervise and monitor petrol sales at depots and stations.

It said the task force would sanction depots and stations selling above the recommended price.

Dorothy Bassey, assistant director, public affairs in DPR, disclosed this in telephone interview with NAN in Lagos on Thursday.

Bassey said the special team was set up purposely for the Yuletide with powers to take over the sale of the product from those selling above the approved price.

She said the agency had met with stakeholders to convey government’s displeasure on illegal sale of petrol above the stipulated price and the long queues at the filling stations.

The DPR warned that those involved in the “criminal act” would henceforth lose their licence under the new steps being taken by agency to enforce discipline.

“We have instituted 24-hour surveillance by special task force which we are not going to disclose their identity because we don’t want them to be harassed,” she said.

Bassey said those selling petrol above the pump price were doing so at night.

She said any station caught would be forced to sell at the official price “so that we don’t seal them to compound the scarcity”.

She said the agency had some dedicated numbers on its website through which Nigerians could send their complaints.

Meanwhile, some marketers, who preferred anonymity, told NAN that the ongoing petrol scarcity would persist as government had failed to address issue of foreign exchange hindering fuel importation.

They expressed willingness to import fuel, explaining that scarcity of foreign exchange, posed a serious challenge.

NAN correspondent, who monitored sale of petrol in parts of Lagos on Thursday, observed queues in some filling stations on Ikorodu Road, Maryland and Surulere.

Many stations were still not selling petrol.

Some stations in Epe, Ibeju-Lekki and Ikorodu were selling petrol between N100 and N 110 per litre.