The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has apprehended 12 individuals involved in the tampering of seals belonging to the Nigeria Mainstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the intimidation of the agency’s surveillance team in Kogi State.
On Friday, the NSCDC Kogi Command conducted a joint operation with the NMDPRA surveillance team to monitor the activities of certain petroleum marketers whose fuel stations had been sealed by the NMDPRA due to their illegal operations.
In June, the NMDPRA took action in Kogi State by shutting down more than 50 filling stations for offenses such as under dispensing fuel and operating without the required NMDPRA storage and sale licenses.
Alex Agiri, the spokesperson for NSCDC, commented on the recent arrests, stating that the suspected petroleum marketers were apprehended in various locations, including Lokoja, Idah, Ankpa, Ayingba, and Ajaokuta.
He said, “The 12 people that were arrested today by NSCDC in collaboration with NMDPRA have been found wanting in the areas of under dispensing, they are also harassing the officials of NMDPRA who are saddled with the responsibility of regulating their activities.
“The role of NSCDC is that we collaborate with the NMDPRA in making sure that anything that has to do with oil is taken with a keen interest in terms of dispensing, location of the product, and many more. It is against the rule that when a filling station is found wanting and being sealed by this same Federal Government agency, a marketer will now go and remove the seal, begin to harass them, or even beat them. That is a grievous offence.
“The Federal Government frowns at it and the NSCDC has the mandate to enforce this arrest in line with the laid down rules in conjunction with the NMDPRA made the arrest of the 12 persons who have been found wanting. When you run foul of the law, the consequences will be meted out to those who are found wanting. These erring marketers will face the full wrath of the law.”
Agiri, on the other hand, emphasized that the arrest should act as a powerful message to other marketers. He emphasized that the NSCDC will collaborate closely with the NMDPRA to ensure that illegal marketers and those engaging in unethical practices are held accountable.
Similarly, Ogbe Godwin, the State Coordinator of NMDPRA, expressed that his surveillance team has faced persistent harassment from certain marketers who have disregarded the law.
“Our surveillance team must have access to all oil and gas facilities in Kogi State without fear, or intimidation from any source. Any marketers that tamper with NMDPRA seals will be handed over to the law enforcement agency for further prosecution.
“Marketers are hereby warned to follow all the gates of approval and upload all relevant documents required for the storage and sales license of their facilities.
“This marketers that have gone against the policies of the government tampering with NMDPRA seals will be sanctioned for such infraction and the sum amount will be paid to the federation account or risk jail term as enshrined in the law,” he stated.
