The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Eket, Akwa Ibom, said on Sunday that it sealed eight filling stations in the state for operating without valid licenses.
Mr Bassey Nkanga, DPR’s Controller (Operations), in charge of Akwa Ibom and Cross River, disclosed this to NAN in Eket.
Nkanga told NAN that many filling stations in the state, including some owned by Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) members, were operating without valid licenses.
According to him, only about 50 per cent of the filling stations had valid licenses.
He said that the department had commenced “vigorous inspection” of filling stations with a view to identifying and sealing those operating without valid licenses.
The controller of operations advised owners of the sealed stations to regularise their licenses to have their outlets reopened.
He warned against operating without valid licenses and advised such dealers to desist from the act or face the wrath of the law.
“Some of the filling stations in Akwa Ibom do not have DPR’s licenses. Henceforth any filling station without a license will not be allowed to operate,” he added.
