GOVERNMENT WILL NOT CONDONE SHARP PRACTICES ARISING FROM THE PUMP PRICE BY PETROLEUM MARKETERS -EKIYOR With the recent reduction in the pump price of petrol by the federal government, several filling stations have resorted to adjusting their meterage in such a way and manner that unsuspecting end users pay more for petrol. The Honourable Commissioner for commerce and industry, Delta State, Hon Dr Chris Ekiyor who led a team of officials of the ministry to filling stations in Asaba metropolis has warned that the state government will not condone what he called sharp practices from marketers who deliberately adjust their meters thereby ripping off the end users, the benefits of the reduced petrol pump price in addition to their already existing profit. The team from the ministry went to both NNPC filling stations, Major and Independent marketers in Asaba with 5 liter measuring cans for the purpose. Hon Dr Chris Ekiyor who frowned at the development while responding to journalists after the visit said, What we have observed in all the filling stations visited is not an issue of compliance to federal government directive but the issue of sharp practices. What they are doing now is to dispense 4liter, 4.2liter, 4.5liter as 5liter and making the customers to pay the price of 5liter. This is unacceptable. Marketers in Delta State should be ready for a show-down in terms of the issue of sharp practices. We will work tirelessly through a task force for this purpose without fail to ensure that all those involved are sealed up or put in a tight junction. We will give these marketers between now and next week to do the appropriate thing in terms of calibration of their meters. When we return and find out that they have failed, we will have no choice that to apply necessary sanctions. We will also be doing this in Warri, unannounced anytime soon to check any station that Is involved in this practice. In Delta State, our duty in the ministry of commerce and industry is to provide an enabling environment between the businessman who sells fuel and the consumer in such a way that no party feels cheated. That is what we are doing here, compliance in terms of adjustment of meter and in terms of price. We will contact the Directorate of Petroleum Resources to ensure that they come with us to seal those places that are not compliant and if we find out that the DPR is not working to safeguard the interest of the federal republic, we will report them to the appropriate authority in Abuja, he said.
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 06:09:15 +0000
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