DPR Accuses Marketers of Diverting Petroleum Products

Chineme Okafor in Abuja

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has said that it has uncovered fresh cases of diversion of petroleum products by fuel marketers.

According to the regulatory agency, products loaded in trucks are being diverted from their original destinations by some marketers.

The agency also alleged that some of the marketers have gone back to hoarding products at their respective retail outlets, and warned that instances of petroleum trucks not getting to their designated ports within the approved three days delivery timeline would not be tolerated.

The agency said in a statement that such reemerging practices amongst oil marketers would be nipped on the board by the regulatory agency. He stated that it has intensified its surveillance activities against this.
“It has come to the attention of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) the unwholesome activities of some petroleum products marketers who indulge in hoarding and diversion of petroleum products at their various trucks holding terminals across the country while also manipulating their retail dispensing pumps at the filling stations to the detriment of unsuspecting buyers.

DPR reiterates its commitment to ensure that marketers comply fully with oil and gas business best practices. Consequently, marketers are hereby warned to desist from such sharp practices and deliver products lifted from the depots to designated filling stations, within the stipulated 1-3 days grace period, depending on the point of discharge,” the statement explained.

The statement assured the public that the DPR would continue to provide regulatory backings to ensure that the country maintains adequate daily sufficiency of products, in anticipation of the completion of the government’s repair and enhancement of the performance of Nigeria’s refineries in Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt to fill in any identified gaps in domestic petroleum products consumption.

It added that the sanctions applicable to all defaulters of the laws and regulations guiding sales and distributions of petroleum products in the country was still in force, and would be meted out to anyone found guilty of breaching the laws.