The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has closed down 75 filling stations in the country for various infractions within just one month. The Osun State office of the NMDPRA made this announcement on Wednesday, highlighting that the infractions committed by operators included operating without a valid license.
Mr Kunle Adeyemo, the NMDPRA State Coordinator, disclosed this during a press conference in which he presented the agency’s activities for the month of April. Adeyemo explained that the agency’s surveillance team visited 301 filling stations throughout the country, discovering that many of them were not operating with valid operational licenses.
“We sealed 75 filling stations operating without valid operational licenses and for other infractions in the state in April. In line with the Federal Government directive, all petroleum marketers have till May 31 to get their valid licenses,” said Adeyemo.
He further stated that any petroleum marketer who fails to adhere to the May 31 deadline for obtaining their valid operational license would be severely sanctioned. The surveillance team of the agency also observed that many marketers have turned their filling stations into parking spaces, cash wash, cash points, or were operating without safety facilities, engaging in pump adjustment, using untrained attendants. Adeyemo urged those engaging in such acts to desist.
“It is important to state that the charges for the above infractions had been increased by the Federal Government. We implore petroleum marketers to start conforming with the rules guiding the operation of filling stations in the state and also meet up with the May 31 deadline, as the NMDPRA surveillance team will be all out to monitor compliance. We urge all marketers to abide by the above to avoid being sanctioned,” Adeyemo concluded.
The closure of filling stations by the NMDPRA highlights the need for operators to conform to regulations and obtain the required licenses before operating. The government’s efforts to monitor compliance in the industry are commendable, and marketers must ensure they adhere to rules guiding the operation of filling stations in the state. The NMDPRA’s continued surveillance will ensure that only those who meet up with the regulations and obtain valid licenses operate filling stations in Nigeria.
