TheEket field of theDepartment of Petroleum Resources (DPR) says it has suspended six marketers in Akwa Ibom State for diverting petroleum products

The DRP Operations Controller in the state, Mr Tamunoiminabo Sundaye disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Eket on Sunday.

Sundaye said that the marketers lifted 180,000 litres of petrol from theCalabar depotof theNigerian National Petroleum Corporation to an unknown destination.

He said that when the department went to their various filling stations on a check, the products were not found in their tanks.

“We have sent letters to the PPMC (Pipelines and Product Marketing Company) depot managers in Calabar and Port Harcourt to ensure that those stations were suspended until DPR gives clearance to them to operate again.

“It is disheartening that the same marketers that are complaining that private depots are not given them product at ex-depot price are now diverting products,’’ he said.

Sundayealso said that two other marketers were queried to give explanation on the whereabouts of the products they lifted.

“We are still working with the information that we have, and before long we will be done with those who lifted products from Port Harcourt,” he added.

He warned other marketers to desist from sharp practices or face the wrath of the law.

Sundaye said that the licence of any marketer caught diverting products again would be withdrawn.

The Operations Controller advised the public not to engage in panic buying of petrol, saying the product would be readily available during the Yuletide. (NAN)