The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) says it has detected cases of many fuel stations under-dispensing petroleum products in their retail outlets nationwide.
In a statement released on Tuesday, September 22, the agency described under-dispensing as a serious breach of consumer trust and said it would intensify enforcement against affected outlets. It warned it will be forced to shut down any retail outlet defrauding unsuspecting Nigerians via its under-dispensing petrol pump stations. DownloadInteractive Maps
The NMDPRA stated that following the recent discovery,all retail outlets have been mandated to recalibrate their fuel dispensers and totalizers.
“The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has observed incidents of under-dispensing of petroleum products at retail outlets nationwide. The Authority views this as a serious breach of consumer trust that will not be tolerated.
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.
This is intended to guarantee accurate measurement and ensure that consumers receive the full value of the product they pay for.”he said
The authority said it has also intensified inspections and enforcement activities across the country.
“Outlets found to be under-dispensing, operating with improperly calibrated equipment, or otherwise compromising dispensing accuracy will be required to take immediate corrective actions.
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.”
This move comes as Nigerians are faced with the increasing price of petrol.