Fresh Tension as PEDAN Accuses Ananbra Govt Operatives Of Illegal Clampdown On Filling Stations

By Our Reporter

Tension is brewing in Anambra State following allegations by the Petroleum Dealers Association of Nigeria (PEDAN) that suspected government-backed operatives have embarked on what marketers describe as an illegal crackdown on filling stations across the state.

The Chairman of PEDAN in Anambra, Mr. Izukanne Chibuike, raised the alarm on Friday while addressing journalists in Awka.

He accused Anambra government operatives of intimidation, harassment, and forceful closure of petroleum outlets without proper regulatory authority.

The dispute stems from the recent appointment of Divine Rapture Company by the Anambra State Ministry of Petroleum Resources to monitor activities within the oil and gas sector.

The consultancy arrangement reportedly empowers the company to track illegal bunkering, uncover the circulation of substandard petroleum products, and gather intelligence on unlawful mining operations.

But petroleum marketers insist the exercise has now degenerated into abuse of power.

According to Chibuike, the operatives have stormed filling stations across different parts of the state, sealing facilities and allegedly threatening business owners under the guise of enforcement.

He disclosed that no fewer than 15 filling stations have already been shut down, a development he warned could destabilise fuel distribution and trigger avoidable scarcity if not urgently addressed.

Chibuike argued that the consultants lack the legal authority to regulate or enforce compliance within the downstream petroleum sector, stressing that such powers belong solely to the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Department of Weights and Measures.

Citing Section 48(1) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, the PEDAN chairman maintained that only the NMDPRA is recognised by law to issue directives, enforce compliance, and regulate petroleum operations nationwide.

“There is a group moving around in the name of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, invading filling stations and harassing marketers,” he said.

“They have already sealed more than 15 outlets. This is unlawful and completely unacceptable. Petroleum marketers cannot operate under fear and intimidation.”

He called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to immediately investigate the activities of the enforcement team and rein in officials allegedly responsible for the operation before the situation escalates into a full-blown crisis within the state’s petroleum sector.

Despite the growing tension, Chibuike assured the public that PEDAN members remain committed to lawful operations and would continue to cooperate with recognised federal regulatory agencies in order to ensure uninterrupted supply of petroleum products across Anambra State.