Strong confirmation emerged last week within the oil and gas sector that a large volume of the automotive gas oil (AGO) otherwise called diesel which are sold to unsuspecting users of the products at the filling stations are adulterated.
In the unscrupulous practice which is commonly referred to as ‘rice and beans’, unsuspecting users buy an admixture of kerosene and diesel at filling stations all over the country.
Our correspondent was told that a lot of marketers actually leave the depots with genuine diesel, but engage in the nefarious activity after leaving the depots in Lagos for their various destinations both in and outside the state.
They are said to be in the habit of mixing the diesel with kerosene in other to have a large quantity and sell it to the general public as diesel. Experts have however confirmed that this can be detrimental to the life span of engines and machines on which such is used.
A member of the petroleum marketing group, Mr. Olanife Adeoye who spoke with Shipping Position Weekly alleged that the practice is mostly perpetrated by marketers and in some cases; the drivers of these trucks, especially the ones that come in from other states to get products in Lagos.
He also disclosed that adulteration of petrol and diesel is a regular phenomenon among marketers and truck drivers and that it is well known to the regulatory agencies.
According to him, those who do it are doing so to Take advantage of the fact that kerosene is cheaper than diesel and that the way to stop it by adopting the same price for both products.
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