By Chidi Nkwopara

OWERRI—No fewer than 35 filling stations have been sealed by the Owerri Zonal Operations Office of the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, for flagrantly violating government regulations.

Confirming this development to Vanguard yesterday, the Zonal Operations Controller, ZOC, Ogbuefi Morrison Nwokedi, also disclosed that his office was continuing with the sensitization of the citizenry on the safe use of liquefied petroleum gas, LPG.

“Over 35 filling stations have been sealed in the three senatorial zones of Okigwe, Owerri and Orlu”, Nwokedi said.

The ZOC also explained that the filling stations were found to have either under-dispensed the product, sold above the government approved pump price or operated without valid licence.

“Some of the filling stations were sealed for failing to update their operational licence. Others were sealed for selling above government approved pump price or shortchanging their customers by under-dispensing the product”, Nwokedi said.

Answering another question, the zonal DPR boss promised that his office would continue to monitor the activities of owners of petroleum products outlets, to ensure compliance.

On the sensitization of the citizenry on the use of LPG, Ogbuefi Nwokedi said that his office had successfully carried out the campaign in Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra and Abia states.

, stressing that the workshops were part of the Department’s response to the recent spate of fire incidents at LPG plants in the country.

“LPG is not evil as has been peddled in some quarters and that it is in fact cheap, clean and safe to use, if people follow specifications and guidelines”, Nwokedi said.