The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has assured motorists in Warri and environs of availability of petroleum products before, during and after the Easter celebration.
Mr Antai Asuquo, the DPR Operations Controller, Warri Zonal Office, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday.
“The current situation as regards Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), particularly in Warri zone is that the product is available at both the depot and retail ends.
“There are enough products in the facilities within Warri zone to take us through the Easter and beyond. As we speak, new products are coming in so, there is no scarcity,” he said.
NAN reports that the Easter is expected to be celebrated in the first week of April.
Asuquo therefore advised marketers against hoarding the product, saying that doing so was detrimental to the survival of their business.
He said that the act also contravened the licence issued to them by the DPR, adding that the agency would continue to intensify its surveillance to enforce compliance.
“They are expected to sell and not to hoard. We have been going out on surveillance recently particularly in Asaba, Patani and some other locations.
“Where we get marketers hoarding products, they are sanctioned. It does not profit them to hoard this product for long.
“It exposes them to risk; there is time value for money.
“They do not have absolute control over this business. So, I will advise them to continue to sell. Whenever there is price adjustment, they will all know and adjust accordingly,’’ Asuquo said.
He also advised the marketers to abide by the ethic of doing the business in order not to undermine their customers by way of hoarding and other sharp practices.
“We will continue to ensure the product (PMS) is available but marketers should not hoard it,’’ he said.
