By Thompson Yamput
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) on Monday sealed up 50 filling stations for operating without storage and sales licenses.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports in Lokoja that the state Coordinator of the authority, Mr Ogbe Godwin, led a task-forcr, which went round the state on routine checks of the operations of the filling stations.
Out of the 50 stations sealed up, five were under dispensing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol, to customers including I.A.Muye located at Nataco; Biodun and Associates filling station; Total filling station Felele; Calma global solutions along Ganaja road; NNPC mega station after commissioners quarters, Ganaja road; and Nipco filling station located in Phase I Lokoja.
Godwin explained that the action of the agency was in line with the Federal Government directives that marketers must apply online and obtain their stations license in line with the guidelines as enshrined in the Petroleum Inspectorate Act before dispensing products to the public.
The coordinator, who acknowledged the impact of the fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians, said: “have discovered some sharp practices by petroleum marketers in the state which necessitated our action and immediate sanctioned.
“We are calling on the general public to report to us any petroleum marketer under dispensing fuel across the 21 local governments of Kogi.
“It’s unfortunate that of the reports making the round that we have been compromised from doing our work as regulating agency.
“I want to assure the public that NMDPRA will continue to monitor the sale of premium motor spirit and to ensure that those engaging in sharp practices are brought to book”.
He said that the affected 50 stations must pay fines for the infraction into the federation account as appropriate and also those without license or operating illegally shall also face the full wrath of the law.
While affirming that the sanitation or surveillance is a continuous process, Godwin said: “We will not rest until NMDPRA clamp down on all oil marketers engaging in sharp practices in the state.”
“As a reputable Government agency, we won’t fold our arms and allow some selfish elements to sabotage government effort at ameliorating the sufferings of the masses,” he warned. NAN
Sallah: CP orders water-tight security against criminals in Kogi
By Thompson Yamput
The Commissioner of Police, Kogi Police Command, Mr Akeem Yusuf, has ordered for a water tight security against criminals across the state for a peaceful Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
A statement issued by the command’s spokesman, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, on Monday in Lokoja, said Yusuf gave the order during a monthly Conference held with Senior Officers, Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), Tactical and Operational Commanders.
He charged the officers to beef up security ahead of the celebration to prevent any untoward situation in their Area of Responsibilities (AOR) throughout the period and beyond.
He further tasked all the DPOs to deploy other operational assets to carry out confidence building and crime prevention patrol on major highways, residential and vulnerable points, places of worship and other places of interest to ensure a peaceful and hitch-free celebration.
“We will ensure that we deny space for criminal elements to thrive in and around the state.
“We therefore enjoin the good people of Kogi to remain security conscious and be law abiding citizens at cooperating with us to curtail any act of criminality in the state throughout the period,” he said.
While congratulating the Muslim faithful in the state on the occasion of 2023 Eid-El Kabir celebration, Yusuf reiterated the command’s level of preparedness and commitment to work in synergy with other security services in ensuring adequate security of lives and properties. NAN
