The Central Zonce of  Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has commenced the enforcement of the new N125 pump price of petrol in Yenagoa, Bayelsa capital.

The youths visited many filling stations in Yenagoa closing down seven of them for dispensing petrol above the federal government approved pump price of N125 per litre.

It will be recalled that the Federal Government had reduced the pump price from N145 to N125 per litre to reflect the fall in crude oil prices.

The youths had applauded four fuel dealers who had reviewed their prices downwards to reflect the new petrol prices for their patriotism by their compliance.

Mr Kenedy Olorogun, Chairman of IYC, Central Zone who spoke after the exercise, explained that their action was informed by the docile attitude of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

He said that it was regrettable that DPR, the Weights and Measures Department and other agencies of the Federal Government had left the public at the mercy of the shyluck fuel dealers who short-changed the public.

Olorogun expressed his displeasure over the refusal by petrol dealers to comply fuel price reduction in Bayelsa adding that other states in the federation had adhered to the N125.

He noted that  in Bayelsa, most filling stations were still selling at N145. in breach of the directive to reduce the price to bring relief to Nigerians.

Olorogun equally frowned at the nonchalant attitude of DPR and other petroleum regulatory authorities for not enforcing the new price regime.

He said that Ijaw youths will keep monitoring the filling stations that were yet to comply with the fuel price reduction to check the exploitation of the people of Bayelsa and called on DPR and other regulators to wake up to its responsibility.

Some of the filling stations that have complied with the new price include Total filling station, Unless God Oil, Sobaz filling station and Tamic Nig. Ltd all in Yenagoa metropolis.

Those shut down by the angry youths include Pados, Ebi Egrin & Sons Nig. Ltd, Okpom’s Oil, Emitare Nig. Ltd, Watgo Petroleum, JJ Wak’s Nig. Ltd and the River Nun filling station.

However, in a reaction, DPR in Bayelsa dismissed the allegations as baseless and cheap blackmail by the youths who were merely seeking relevance and recognition.

Prinnce Omasanjuwa Oshodi, a Public Relations Officer at DPR Office, Bayelsa said in a telephone interview on Friday that the operations of the IYC in enforcing the new price of petrol as illegal and criminal, adding that the youths lacked the recognition of government and expertise to regulate the sector.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Bayelsa has increased its surveillance activities and is effectively enforcing the new price regime.

“The operations Controller led a team of senior officials of DPR on Thursday on routine surveillance across Yenagoa to enforce compliance and many of the stations visited promptly adjusted their pumps to reflect the new regulated price.

“In spite of the Coronavirus, we are doing our best in the discharge of our statutory responsibility and we remain undeterred by the illegal activities and cheap blackmail by the youths and we cannot join issues with them.

“We will not get distracted, as we are currently engaged in our work to ensure that the reduction in the pump price by the federal government brings relief to the people of Bayelsa.

“The DPR cannot tolerate the exploitation of the public by selling above the approved N125 or underdispensing, we are enforcing it,” Oshodi said