By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, Enugu Field Office, has sealed eight petrol stations in Enugu for dispensing Premium Motor Spirit above the approved government pump price.
The Head, Operations, Mr Afam Azuike announced this on Monday.
Azuike said that the field office embarked on aggressive surveillance in the Enugu metropolis after a public outcry over the hike in price.
He said 29 petrol stations were inspected.
“We discovered that the major marketers sold between N162 and N175. They complained about the cost of the product at the depot as well as the freight charges from Lagos to Enugu.
“We are aware that the government has not increased the price band of PMS which is on partial deregulation.
“The current price band is cost-reflective, taking into cognizance the international cost of crude oil and cost of importation of refined products,” Azuike explained.
According to him the eight petrol stations were sealed in the course of the operation but explained that three out of the sealed stations eventually reverted to the government-approved price and were reopened.
He said that the five that refused to revert would remain sealed and be sanctioned in line with the default regulations.