NMDPRA has warned petrol stations over under-dispensing and threatened licence revocation.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has warned petrol station operators across the country against under-dispensing petroleum products, threatening to revoke the licences of outlets that persistently or seriously violate its regulations.
The regulator issued the warning in a circular released on Tuesday in Abuja following reports of under-dispensing at retail outlets nationwide.
The NMDPRA described the practice as a “serious breach of consumer trust” and said it would not tolerate the sale of quantities of petrol below what customers paid for.
The authority directed all retail outlet operators to immediately calibrate and verify their fuel dispensers and totalisers to ensure accurate measurement of petroleum products sold to consumers.
“To safeguard the interests of consumers, all retail outlet operators are hereby directed to carry out immediate calibration and verification of all dispensers and totalizers,” the NMDPRA said.
According to the regulator, the exercise is intended to guarantee accurate measurement and ensure consumers receive the full value of the products they purchase.
The authority said it had intensified inspection and enforcement activities across the country, adding that filling stations found to be under-dispensing or operating with improperly calibrated equipment would be required to take immediate corrective measures.
“Persistent or serious violations will be subject to appropriate sanctions, up to and including revocation of the outlet’s license, in line with NMDPRA’s regulations,” it warned.
The regulator also directed industry associations to communicate the directive to their members and support compliance across the petroleum retail sector.
The associations include the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN).
The NMDPRA said compliance by petroleum retailers was essential to protecting consumers and maintaining transparency in the downstream petroleum market.
“NMDPRA remains committed to protecting consumers, promoting transparency, and upholding the integrity of petroleum product transactions nationwide,” the authority added.
