The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has sealed two fuel stations in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta.

Idemudia Obeahon, the head of retail infrastructure of the NMDPRA office in Warri, disclosed this to journalists on Thursday after a surveillance exercise by the regulatory agency.

Mr Obeahon, who led the surveillance team on the routine exercise, is currently acting on behalf of the Delta coordinator of NMDPRA, Victor Ohwodiasa.

Stating that the routine surveillance was to ensure that the right products were dispensed, he said the defaulters were sanctioned for offences bordering on under-dispensing and operating without valid licenses.

“We check for quality to ensure the marketers sell the right quality. We also check for under-dispensing to ensure they sell the right quality and quantity to the consumers.

“Beyond that, we also check to know if the marketers are selling in a safe and secure environment. This is a normal routine exercise that we do almost every day.

“Though, there are bound to be defaulters, so, today, we have sealed two filling stations majorly for under-dispensing and operating with expired licenses,” he said.

Mr Obeahon acknowledged that the marketers were into business to maximise profit but advised them to sell quality products and dispense the right quantities to the consumers.

He urged consumers to be vigilant while buying petroleum products and to report sharp practices by the marketers to the NMDPRA for appropriate sanction.

Mr Obeahon noted that there was not much pressure in Warri in terms of the availability of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), unlike what is currently happening in some parts of the country.

“Unlike some parts of the country, there is not much pressure in Warri; some filling stations are virtually empty, as they have products but no customers to buy.

“Also, we have not experienced buying in jerry cans for trans-border smuggling out of the state; we are on the watch-out,” he said.

The team also inspected a fuel station belonging to Rainoil on Ogunu Road, Total Energies at Okumagba Ave by Airport Road and Newbridge fuel station by Airport Road.

Odafe Global Oil and Gas Company Limited and Matrix Energy are both on the Airport road; A A Rano at the Effurun/Sapele road and the NNPC station situated on the NPA expressway by Niger Cat were also inspected.

(NAN)