By Adedapo Adesanya
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has given fuel station owners in Lagos till the end of September 2021 to renew and regularise their operating licences, warning that it would shut unlicensed gas and petrol stations after the deadline.
This was disclosed by the zonal operations controller of the agency, Mr Ayorinde Cardoso, in Lagos. He said the fuel stations have from July to September to have their papers.
According to him, the three months window was to allow them to renew their liceces following interventions by industry stakeholders.
A DPR task force had recently shut down 140 filling stations and 27 gas plants for operating without valid licences.
However, Mr Cardoso said the DPR decided to permit the owners of the petroleum products retail outlets to reopen for business after pleas by several operators in the country.
According to him, it had met with the representatives of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) over the issue and it was agreed that an extension should be given.
Speaking, he said, “The affected operators have been given a three-month window for the renewal/regularisation of their operating licences within the zone.
“This is in line with the department’s drive of being a business enabler and opportunity house.”
The DPR task force had during the two-day exercise visited a total of 380 facilities.
He assured that the DPR would continue to ensure safety in the selling and distribution of petroleum products to reduce incidents of explosion in the state.
