Taskforce Shuts 7 Fuel Stations

The Edo State Petroleum Monitoring Committee has sealed up seven petrol stations in Benin City, the state capital, southsouth Nigeria, for having water mixed with fuel in their underground tanks.

The affected petrol stations are Petrol Hawk, Osimatex Association Limited, Manoba Petrol all in Upper Sakpoba Road Benin City.

Others are Matimo, Oando, Odin Petrol and Obhokhan Petrol all on Benin Agbor Road, Ikpoka Okha Local Government Area.

Chairman of the Committee, Lord Amen Osunde, gave the order while monitoring the activities of petroleum dealers in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state during an exercise tagged ‘Operation Declare Your Metre and Underground Tank’.

Osunde said it is aimed at ensuring that members of the public do not buy fuel mixed with water which he said could result in spending extra money to repair their vehicles after purchasing fuel from these filling stations.

The Task Force boss who led other members of the committee, said inceasant complaints by motorists who purchase petroleum products from the affected stations led to the exercise.

He added that such unwholesome practices will not be condoned by the committee, and subsequently directed that all the filling stations with water in their underground tanks should be sealed up pending when the dealers are ready to adhere to the directives of cleaning up of their underground tanks.

Osunde also called on members of the public to report to the office of the committee any time they noticed any problem in their engine after buying fuel from any of the filing stations. He, however, cautioned them to be very sure before coming over to report to the committee.

—Jethro Ibileke/Benin