The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has sealed five petrol stations in Akwa Ibom State for alleged diversion, under-dispensing, and operating without valid licenses.
The NMDPRA Coordinator in the state, Ikechukwu Eseka, disclosed this during a surveillance operation in Uyo on Thursday. He said one of the petrol stations, owned by the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom Petroleum Products Monitoring Committee, Mr. Godwin Ekpo, was shut down for operating illegally.
“If a station is not licensed, the source of its products is questionable. This is a clear case of diversion of about 15,000 litres of petrol. We have a ‘no license, no loading’ directive in place,” Eseka said.
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He added that four other petrol stations in Uyo were sealed for poor housekeeping, unapproved structural modifications, and other operational breaches.
Eseka noted that the affected outlets would remain closed until they meet the conditions set by the Federal Government.
The NMDPRA has recently stepped up its nationwide monitoring to curb fuel diversion, adulteration, and consumer exploitation across the country.