The Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, has sealed up 19 fueling stations in Sokoto and Kebbi states for allegedly selling petrol above the approved pump price of N 145.

The Sokoto operations Controller of the department, Mohammed Makera, made this known during a chat with newsmen in Sokoto on Tuesday.

Makera said that out of the affected fueling stations, 11 are located in Sokoto State while eight were in Kebbi.

18 of the petrol stations were said to be owned by independent marketers, while one was run by a major oil company.

Makera said that the stations were sealed because almost all them were allegedly selling petrol at between N 148 and N 150.

He added that they were each fined N 100,000 per pump as well as placed on a two-week suspension.

The DPR controller reiterated that officials of the department would ensure that the unsuspecting motorists were not cheated by the marketers.

He also assured Nigerians that there would be adequate supply of petroleum products to effectively cater for the yuletide period, urging motorists to desist from panic buying.