By Abimbola Ogunnaike
At least 12 petroleum marketers in Kogi State have been arrested by the operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for allegedly removing the closure seal of Nigeria Mainstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, (NMDPRA) and embarked on the sale of the product.
Recall that last month,the NMDPRA sealed 50 out of 90 fuel stations operating in the state over offenses ranging from expired licenses and under-dispensing of product, among others.
The Kogi Command of the NSCDC in collaboration with the surveillance team of NMDPRA made the arrest across the state on Friday, 7 July, 2023 when they went to check the activities of some petroleum marketers whose filling stations were sealed by the agency.
Spokesperson of the NSCDC, Alex Agiri, said the suspected petroleum marketers were arrested in Lokoja, Idah, Ankpa, Anyingba and Ajaokuta.
“It’s against the rule that a marketer will remove the closure seal when a filling station is found wanting; that is a grievous offence,” Agiri said.
State Coordinator of NMDPRA, Engr. Ogbe Orits Godwin, said his surveillance team has been subjected to consistent harassment from some marketers who have violated the law of dispensing petrol products.
