A Toyota Camry car today exploded at the Port Harcourt mega station of the NNPC, after fuel was dispensed into an extra in-built tank in the car.
The incident happened just outside the station and made the NNPC to suspend temporarily the sale of products at the station.
Although the fire did not affect the station, the corporation, in a statement by spokesman, Ndu Nghamadu, noted that it was imperative to suspend operations to enable security agencies clear the resultant traffic situation at the scene.
Meanwhile, the combined team of officials of the NNPC and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), led by the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, have heightened the tempo of unscheduled visits to fuel stations in Abuja.
They have in the course of the visits raided stations suspected to be involved in underhand dealings.
The raid which was facilitated by the operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) led to the clampdown of a notorious fuel outlet in the Kubwa District of the FCT caught selling petrol at the rate of N250 per litre, a price well above the approved retail price of N145/litre.
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The NNPC GMD promptly ordered an on-the-spot dispensing of the remaining product in the storage tank free to motorists in conformity with extant sanction for such misdemeanour .
Addressing journalists after the exercise, Dr. Baru noted that in line with its mandate as supplier of last resort, the NNPC would continue to work with relevant stakeholders like the DPR and Civil Defence Corps to bring to a quick end the prevailing hardship in accessing petrol across the country.
The GMD enthused that with the recent directive by the Presidency for the security agencies to tighten the noose on smuggling of petroleum products, the issues of cross-border activities and diversion of products would be curtailed, thus allowing Nigerians to benefit from the massive injection of fuel into the system being undertaken by the corporation within the last few weeks.
