BY CHRIS OCHAYI

The new Zonal Controller, Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, Abuja, Mallam Usman Mohammed, has promised to cleanse up the system saying it would no longer be a business as usual for oil marketers indulging in sharp practices.

Mohammed spoke in Abuja at a send-off party organised by the DPR for its outgoing Zonal Controller, Mr Aliyu Halidu.

Halidu had expressed concern over the unnecessary influence from some quarters on the operations of the agency.

Mohammed said he would ensure that diversion and under-dispensing of petroleum products to consumers at the filling stations were stamped out of the zone.

He said that existing structure of the department in the zone would be strengthened and that measures would be evolved for effective check on the activities of marketers in the area.

According to him, “the issue of diversion can be easily tackled by constant check on the retail outlets and that is what we have been doing. If you have been supplied with products, you have to take it to the retail outlets.”

He therefore warned marketers against hoarding of products because DPR surveillance teams were on ground, stressing that appropriate sanctions would be meted out to offending marketers.

He said further that said he would ensure that consumers are not short changed and they have value for their money at any given time.

In his remarks, Halidu expressed concern over the unnecessary influence from some quarters on the operations of the agency.

While speaking with newsmen shortly after the send-off ceremony, he said, “Abuja is the seat of government and any small step you take, the power that be may come in, and there are lot of influences in Abuja.”