The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has announced its readiness to crack down on marketers who facilitate the illegal sale of petroleum products, particularly Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), in jerry cans. This was revealed last Friday following a closed-door meeting with major retail outlet managers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The meeting aimed to reinforce the authority’s regulations against the unlawful peddling of petroleum products in jerry cans. Ogbugo Ukoha, Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure at NMDPRA, warned marketers that the authority would enforce strict compliance moving forward. He emphasized that the NMDPRA would intensify its surveillance and clamp down on violators by suspending their retail licenses.
“The authority is taking this decisive step to protect lives and property at risk of fire outbreaks caused by improper handling of the volatile and highly flammable product. Additionally, the authority is committed to tackling the cross-border smuggling of products through the use of jerry cans,” Ukoha stated.
A team led by NMDPRA Executive Directors Ukoha and Dr. Mustapha Larmode, in collaboration with security agencies, conducted a surveillance operation in the FCT, uncovering several illegal fuel dumps and depots. The individuals involved were arrested and handed over to the Department of State Security for prosecution.
