A team from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) on Tuesday carried out a raid on filling stations in Osogbo, where they sealed a filling station in the Olaiya area for hoarding fuel despite instruction by the agency to dispense the product.
During the raid in the capital city of Osun state, they also forced many owners that hoarded the product to sell to customers.
The officials of the agency were seen at Olaiya Area, Alekuwodo, Okefia and Ola Garage, – all in Osogbo, forcing many independent marketers that hitherto were not selling fuel to dispense the product, though at unofficial pump prices.
During a visit to the affected filling station, our correspondent observed that the fuel dispenser in the premises had a tag indicating that its operation had been suspended.
A business owner within the premises of the filling station who preferred anonymity, during an interview with newsmen said, “We were all here when the officials came.
“The filling station was not selling fuel and those that came told them to start selling immediately after they confirmed that the station had fuel.
“The station manager immediately started selling and stopped shortly after the team that came left.
“When the officials that came returned to the station about 15 minutes later, they observed that they were no longer selling fuel. They immediately sealed the station”.
When contacted for official information on the number of filling stations affected by the raid carried out by the agency, the Head of Operations, NMDPRA in Osun State, Yekini Salami did not confirm nor deny the exercise.
He simply said, “I am not in a position to tell you that”.
Meanwhile, petrol in many filling stations in Osogbo and Ede was sold for between N250 and N350 per litre.
But the few major marketers that had fuel were dispensing fuel at the official pump price.
