Niger Delta Crises, DPR put pressure on Lagos Tanks Farms

The perennial build up  of petroleum product tankers on the ever-busy Apapa –Oshodi expressway has been attributed to the prevailing unrests in the Niger Delta which has made marketers to run to Lagos and abandon Warri and Port Harcourt.
Consequently, marketers who come into Lagos from all parts of the country and who ordinarily should load products from the Niger Delta are the causes of the long queue of tankers on the Apapa end of the expressway.
Av cross – section of operators and patrons of the tank farms in Lagos told Shipping Position Weekly in Lagos that oil installations and facilities as well as oil sector workers have not been spared in the attacks by militants in various parts of the Niger Delta.
The attacks and kidnappings coupled with the leakage in the pipeline to Kaduna which has led to fuel shortage is another factor that has made Lagos facilities attractive.
Some of the oil markets also accused officials of the department of petroleum resources (DPR) of pursuing personal agenda as they visit the tank farms at random on the excuse that they are on official assignment.
Acknowledging that the long queue which often stretch to the expressway is already been attended to by the marketers’ association, marketer, Mr. Femi Oyedepo disclosed that already holding bays are being constructed by owners of then tank farms.
Another marketer disclosed that one tank farm was sealed up last week by the DPR for allegedly not complying with directives. 
Another marketer who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent it is high time that the federal government called DPR to order, because according to him, activities of the agency are starting to affect operations.