The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has shut seven fuel stations and queried proprietors of three others in Adamawa over sharp practices.

The Operations Controller, Sadiq Ibrahim, said on Tuesday that the NMDPRA shut the stations within two weeks of surveillance to address the problem of artificial scarcity of petroleum products in the Adamawa capital.

“In the last two weeks, we regrettably shut seven fuel stations. We do not close business facilities unless we are compelled to do so.

“Three of them were able to pay penalties to the government and we unsealed them. Four are still sealed.

“We queried proprietors of three other fuel stations, the latest being on Tuesday,” he said.

Mr Ibrahim explained that the seven petrol stations were selling petroleum products above the approved pump price, while the queried stations diverted petroleum products to other stations without approval.

He said one of the proprietors that was queried gave satisfactory responses and was guided on how to avoid a repeat of the offence.

Mr Ibrahim called on the public not to engage in panic buying of petrol as there was enough in stock, and appealed to marketers of petroleum products to play by the rules. 

(NAN)