NSCDC Declares to Seal Off Petrol Stations Selling Above N145

Mr. Desmond Agu, the Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Bayelsa State Command, has threatened to seal off any petrol station selling above the regulated pump price N145.

Agu, who spoke during an interview in Yenagoa, the state capital, on Tuesday, insisted that filling station owners had no reason to increase the pump price of the products.

He also said that apart from sealing off such a filling station, the corps would also arrest the owner of such a station.

The commandant said, ‘The Federal Government has not increased the pump price of petrol. It is still N145 per litre. I have discussed with officials of the Department of Petroleum Resources in the state that any petrol station selling above N145 will be sealed off.

He, therefore, urged members of the public to report any errant marketers or petrol stations ripping customers off through arbitrary hike in price of petrol.

”I have already called a meeting of the Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria. I have told the marketers that if I get any of them selling above the pump price, we will seal off their stations as well as arrest such a marketer or marketers.

”We hereby urge members of the public not to gloss over such gross economic sabotage. They are urged to report any filling station in the state selling above the government regulated price. We will not condone such act of criminality. We will be going round the filling stations to monitor compliance from time to time.”

Agu also warned officers and men of the command against compromise in any way, saying that any errant operatives would be shown the exit door.

”I warn the officers and men of the command against compromise. Any errant civil defender will be arrested and prosecuted. They are advised in their own interest to avoid any act capable of tarnishing the good image of the corps,” he said.

He also reiterated the command’s zero tolerance for vandalism, sabotage of public facilities, especially critical national assets such as pipeline vandalism and other oil installations.

He warned oil criminals to look for legitimate jobs to do instead of engaging in nefarious activities, insisting that anyone caught would incur the full wrath of the law.