As uncertainty rules the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise called petrol, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) Wednesday said the country will not tolerate hoarding of petroleum products in any part of the country.

The department specifically issued a warning to depot owners to desist from hoarding of the products in their facilities.

This is coming amidst indications that pump price of petrol is being adjusted upward following the increase in the price of crude oil at the international market.

Director of DPR, Sarki Auwalu in statement said there are reports on the wholesome activities of some depot owners who have created artificial scarcity by hoarding products in some parts of the country.

“Their nefarious activities is causing untold hardships to Nigerians,” he said.

DPR noted that from available records, there is product sufficiency in the country and that there was no need for such practices by these group of unpatriotic citizens.

Auwalu emphasised that the Department, as the licence issuers to all oil and gas facilities in Nigeria including the depots, would not hesitate to apply appropriate sanctions on any depot found wanting in this regard.

He further stated that the agency has set up a special taskforce to intensify surveillance and monitoring of all depots to check this anomaly.

The Director assured that DPR would continue to provide its regulatory focus of quality, quantity, integrity and safety ( QQIS) for the effective operations of the Downstream sector. (NAN)