By Danlami Nasir Isah
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on Thursday, declared that it shall take necessary actions against any illegal retail outlets, including filling stations and gas plants, at the end of first quarter of this year.
Misau Abba, Abuja Zonal Operations Controller, DPR, gave the warning at the the organisation’s 2018 Annual General Stakeholders Meeting with the theme: Regulatory Compliance as a veritable tool for safe and efficient operations in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Abba said the grace period can only be allowed till first quarter after which appropriate sanctions would be meted out to outlets that default.
“DPR will take all necessary measures within the ambience of the law on any illegal retail outlets that fail to regularize after the expiration of the grace period,” he said.
The forum which brought together major players in the downstream oil and gas sector to review 2018 operational challenges and set out new plan for the year was organized as part of the DPR’s efforts to sensitize stakeholders on guidelines governing operations.
Mr. Mordecai Danteni Baba-Ladan, the Director of DPR said the department has made some new innovations in order to serve the public better.
Represented by the Zonal Controller, Maiduguri Mr. Idris Ali, the DPR boss said one of the new innovations was the full implementation of online processing of downstream licences, permits and approvals.
“These were achieved through the Retail Outlets Monitoring System (ROMS), Depots System (DEPOT), Import and Export (IMPEX), Lube Blending Plant System (LBL), Coastal Vessel License System (CVL) and Refinery Operations System (RPL),” he said.
He said the oil and gas industry service permit (OGISP) application has also been automated meaning that interested applicants can easily make applications from the comfort of their homes or offices worldwide.
Alhaji Sulieman Butu, IPMAN Chairman, Suleja/ Abuja zone, urged NNPC to always ensure there is enough products for distribution.
“We on our part are ready. Our monies are there ready to buy these products whenever there product and our stations are ready for effective distribution ” he said.
He said marketers now get their licenses within two weeks of application due to DPR’s introduction of electronic licencing programme.
According to him, licensing could take six months or more but the innovation has made licencing easy and faster.