The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has warned petroleum retail outlets across the country against under-dispensing products, threatening to revoke the licences of stations found deliberately or repeatedly giving consumers less fuel than they paid for.
The regulator issued the warning on Tuesday in an industry circular published on its official X handle, directing all retail outlet operators to immediately calibrate and verify their dispensing equipment and totalisers.
The directive followed reports of under-dispensing at some filling stations amid rising petrol prices, with the NMDPRA describing the practice as a serious breach of consumer trust.
The authority said the verification exercise was intended to ensure that dispensing equipment provides accurate measurements and that motorists receive the quantity of petroleum products for which they have paid.
It also disclosed that inspections and enforcement activities had been intensified across the country to identify outlets that violate dispensing standards.
“The authority has intensified inspections and enforcement activities nationwide,” the regulator said.
According to the NMDPRA, filling stations discovered to be under-dispensing products, operating equipment that has not been properly calibrated or otherwise compromising dispensing accuracy will be required to take immediate corrective measures.
The regulator warned that persistent or serious breaches could attract sanctions, including the revocation of the affected outlet’s operating licence.
“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 said.
The authority also directed major industry associations to communicate the new requirements to their members and encourage full compliance.
Among the associations named are the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN).
NMDPRA urged the organisations to support the enforcement of accurate dispensing standards across their respective membership networks.
The regulator reaffirmed that the exercise was part of its broader responsibility to protect consumers, promote transparency and ensure integrity in petroleum product transactions nationwide.
The directive comes as motorists continue to contend with elevated petrol prices, making accurate measurement at retail outlets a significant consumer concern.
