DPR SEALS 5 FILLING STATIONS IN IMO

About five fillings stations in Owerri municipality and Nekede, Owerri West local council area of Imo State, were yesterday sealed, while many others were forced to dispense the premium motor spirit, PMS, to motorists at the government approved pump price of N86.50 per litre. The DPR officials also discovered that Oando, which was one of the stations sealed yesterday, had over 61,000 litres of PMS but could not sell because of faulty generating set. Apparently angered by what he called “puerile explanation”, the DPR Zonal Controller, Ogbuefi Morrison Nwokedi, who led the team of officials, not only ordered the sealing of the station but also asked the dealer to report to the office when he finally fixes the generator. The situation was different at Ebere Links where the product was selling at N170 before the arrival of DPR officials, who immediately forced them to revert to the official pump price. Fielding questions from newsmen after the monitoring exercise, Ogbuefi Nwokedi said the major interest was the full compliance of government directive on the sale of PMS. “No marketer has so far given us any lead to justify the outrageous price tag they placed on the petroleum product. Until they do this, we will continue to insist on the government approved pump price”, Nwokedi said. Most car owners who spoke to reporters, commended DPR for enforcing the government directive on pump price. Prince Pat Abii appealed to government to find out whether the marketers get the product at the depots or not, adding that “it does not make economic sense if the marketers buy the product at over N100 per litre and forced to sell at N86.50.