Mrs Ejiro Ufondu is the controller, Department of Petroleum Resouces (DPR). In this interview with JOY EMMANUEL, she talked about how the department is working round the clock towards an all-round availability of petroleum products throughout the Yuletide.
In most festive seasons, there is always fuel scarcity. Are we expecting such this season?
No, certainly not this year, so it won’t happen.
Why are you so sure?
This is because the federal government has put all necessary measures in place to see to it that we all have a pleasant festive season devoid of fuel scarcity. The Nigeria National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) has also assured us that they have provided enough products to sustain us throughout this festive period.
But marketers may have a way of hoarding thereby creating artificial scarcity to increase the pump price.
Yes, they do that but we have routine surveillance as we go out almost every day. When we go for surveillance, there are vital things we check. First, whether they are operating or not, then if they are operating, we check their pumps. This is because a common complain we get is under-dispensing. Occasionally, we see cases of over-dispensing; it is not only under-dispensing and over dispensing means that the marketer is losing. Then when we check the status of their pump and it’s under- dispensing, we seal it.
So far, how has it been this year in terms of regulations?
This year, we have aggressively stepped up our surveillance. Since the beginning of the year, we have been going out; so all the marketers are on their toes because they know that there is no hiding place. By that, we check their pumps and dip their tanks to see how much products are left. If we dip your tank and if you have products but you are not selling, there is only one explanation: it simply means that you are hoarding, but if we dip your tank and you are selling fine. So because they know that it can be sealed, this year is a lot better, because we stepped up our surveillance and if we seal, we hand you over to the law enforcement agencies like the NSCDC and the police; so, compliance is a lot better this year. What about the issue of adulteration
We have not had any major issue with adulteration so far in Bayelsa state even though we don’t have depots here. The marketers here load from a neighbouring state; so we are totally dependent at the moment on Delta and Rivers states until the modular refineries come to stay. So far, the daily trunk card from these two states and the trucks that are loading from license depot shows no level of adulteration. Besides, we have test kits too which we use to test, so far, no case of adulteration.
What are the challenges you have while operating in Bayelsa?
Before now, it was the case of hoarding where they don’t want to sell during the day but prefer to sell at night and all that but this time around, we don’t have such issues other than the issue of under dispensing of pumps for which a lot of stations were sealed.
The kerosene we see in Bayelsa state is of different colours; why is that so?
It depends on the source from the test result, but the colour is from where it comes from. Just like PMS, we import products from different countries, so all may not be the same; the colour really is immaterial, what matters is the chemistry like the compositions. Just like the PMS, if you test it and it passes the test, it is good. It is the same with kerosene.
How many filling stations are yet to renew their licenses and what are their problems?
We have about 35 that are in the process out of 126 active ones. We have about 50 abandoned stations in the state and this is the renewal period from October to December. Right now, many of them are in the process of renewing their documentations at this time.
Are they experiencing any issue?
I wouldn’t want to speak for them, but a lot of them are complaining about tax clearance not coming out on time. Without a tax clearance, you can’t do business in this country; that’s really the major complaints there are having.
What is your relationship with IPMAN like?
IPMAN is an association; we are the regulator and they are marketers. Majority of our stations in Bayelsa state are owned by IPMAN members. Infact, about 90% are own by IPMAN and a lot of them are complying with our irregularities.
So what’s your assurance to consumers ahead of the Yuletide?
Enjoy your holidays; you will not have any scarcity of any petroleum products this year. I can assure you that not in Bayelsa state or anywhere in this country would it happen.
Have you noticed the black market trade going on in the state mostly at night?
I always like to answer this question this way. Our office hours as DPR is 7:30 am to 4:30 pm and it is within this hour that we carry out our duties. After 4:30 pm, we don’t carry out any duty; so anything that is happening at night, we have other security agencies like NSCDC and the police. We don’t go out at night under any circumstances.
That means the black market is striving because people are patronising them.
I’m not aware that black market is striving, why would anybody wants to buy from black market when there is fuel everywhere? Black market prices are usually higher than the filling stations. Now, all the stations are wet in Bayelsa state; now, we have more than our daily sufficiency meaning that all the stations have products; why would anybody wants to buy black-market when filling stations are selling for 143 naira?
Have you been monitoring the establishment of the modular refineries in the state?
At the moment, we have one under construction and we have our officers attached to that project. It is going on.
What is your warning to those who might want to hoard these products?
There is no place to hide in Bayelsa state. We know where all the retail outlets are, we have the law and we will use the law. We will enforce them and ensure that everyone who has product is selling and if there any infraction, we would seal and hand over to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. It is better to do the right thing; compliance is a lot cheaper than non- compliance. With respect to Health Safety Environment (HSE), we have a good record in Bayelsa state. We don’t have serious issues of adulterations; the compliance level is increasing; more station are having valid documentation and this year so far, we have not recorded accident in any station or gas plants neither have we recorded any accident involving petroleum products tank.
What does it take to maintain this standard?
It is just simple awareness. People take pleasure in cutting corners, but if they know that in cutting corners you end up becoming more expensive, they would want to do the right thing. When we had the AGM, the key thing was on compliance; we wanted people to know that it is possible to comply with the regulations and have safe operations and be profitable.
