The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in collaboration with the Cross River State Task Force on Petroleum Resources has impounded a truck belonging Virgin Coast Limited with 40,0000…
• Agency says nation needs 1mbpd to check scarcity
• Shuts 24 filling stations in C’River, A’Ibom
• CNPP gives seven-day ultimatum over crisis
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in collaboration with the Cross River State Task Force on Petroleum Resources has impounded a truck belonging Virgin Coast Limited with 40,0000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) heading for the Republic of Cameroun.
The vehicle was arrested by a team set up by the Cross River State Ministry of Petroleum Resources working in tandem with security agencies and the DPR.
Briefing reporters yesterday at the Nigerian Army 13 Brigade, Akim Barracks Calabar, the DPR Controller, Operations for Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, Bassey Nkanga, said the diverted vehicle was meant to supply the product to the NNPC retail outlet in Awi, Akamkpa Local Council of Cross River State.
“But it was diverted and caught in Ikang-Bakassi, a border town to the Republic of Camerooun and brought to 13 Brigade Nigerian Army in its custody.
“We are going back to the station at Akamkpa to put a seal and the marketer is going to be sanctioned adequately,” he said.
However, the agency says Nigeria would need about 1,000,000 barrels per day bpd effective installed capacity to tackle the shortfall in refining capacity of 554,000 bpd.
Also, the DPR has sealed 24 filling stations in the two states for engaging in illicit activities just as it has disclosed that 80 per cent of the product for Cross River and Akwa Ibom was being diverted to Niger Republic and Chad.
Nkanga said: “We have sealed 24 filling stations both in Akwa Ibom and Cross River. We also sanctioned them for no less than 30 days at the minimum.
“If you go to Northern Cross River in particular, there are stations that are still under DPR seals. We have sealed them for more than 90 days because they have refused to come and pay the fine and we don’t allow them to operate.”
Meanwhile, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to end the fuel scarcity, threatening to mobilise organised labour as well as civil society groups and the masses to occupy the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) until the minister resigns.