The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Anambra state has assured members of the public that there is enough fuel in the country.
Okechukwu Okoro, Controller of DPR in charge of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states gave the assurance in an interview with the Newsmen in Awka on Monday.
“There is enough fuel in the country, there is no need for panic buying or storing of fuel in private houses,’’ he said.
He affirmed that the consequences of such practice can be deadly, stressing that storing petroleum product particularly during this harmattan period at homes can cause fire outbreak.
Okoro urged motorists and other customers to desist from panic buying but instead they should buy the quantity that would be enough for their use only.
According to him, DPR will ensure that appropriate pricing was enforced and that no marketer hoarded the product.
“There is enough fuel in the country, there is no need for panic buying or storing of fuel in private houses, the consequences of such practice can be deadly.
“We are going out every day to ensure that there is full compliance to price and supply,” he said.
Okoro said that no marketer should hold Nigerians hostage by increasing pump price illegally because it was yuletide, pointing out that that the federal government has not announced any change in price.
“We will continue to clamp down on marketers that violate the regulation in the sector, while assuring customers in the zone of adequate protection from the antics of such marketers.
“We are not aware of some of the excuses they give for increasing pump prices, because when we ask them to provide evidence, they are not able to do so.
“We will not relent in enforcing compliance, the challenge is that soon after we leave their filling stations, they return to their nefarious activities, the assurance we are giving is that customers in the zone shall be protected,” he said.
