Energy Briefs
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THE Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, has uncovered two illegal engine oil manufacturing factories in Ikugbayi Street, Marine Bridge and Raji Razak Estate, FESTAC Town in Lagos. The CSC Ajayi Olaleye of the Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps led the arrest of six workers from the first factory at Marine Bridge, while no arrest was made in FESTAC Town.
The DPR team led by Sholabi Olanrewaju, manager, Engineering and Standards unit under Operation, told newsmen on Wednesday, June 22, that they discovered the factory during a routine inspection and monitoring in the state. “We visited these places with NSDC and met some men actually dispensing the base oil.
“From our investigation, they are actually retailing ordinary base oil without additive into a container of a well-known brand like Total. This is an illegal operation, the environment is unsafe and they are not licensed to brand base oil,” she said.
Olarenwaju said that the department would ensure that they get at those illegal lubricants in Lagos metropolis. She explained that before anybody could engage in petroleum product business in Nigeria, such person must be licensed by the DPR.
Also, Okechukwu Okoro, manager, Retail Outlet and Marketing Department, DPR, told newsmen after the exercise that led to the clamp-down was as a result of series of complaints from the public. Okoro said that the department discovered that there was a high adulteration of diesel in the market.
“So, we have come to see if it is true and we have found out this to be real. Many people who supply diesel at home gave them adulterated diesel which is not from real source. People should be wary of where they get their product from, they should ensure that they get from the right source because these people mix other products in the name of diesel.”
Kehinde Atande, one of the arrested workers, said that he brought oil with water to filter when he was arrested. He said that he did not know that what they were doing there was illegal.
— Jul 4, 2016 @ 01:00 GMT
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