The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has begun a nationwide crackdown on filling stations accused of under-dispensing petrol to motorists.
The regulator directed retail outlet operators to immediately check, calibrate and verify their dispensing meters and totalisers to ensure customers receive the quantity of fuel they pay for.
The move followed reports of filling stations delivering less petrol than displayed on their pumps, with the NMDPRA warning that persistent or serious violations could lead to the revocation of operating licences.
The authority said under-dispensing was a serious breach of consumer trust and ordered operators to correct faulty or improperly calibrated equipment.
“Persistent or serious violations will be subject to appropriate sanctions, up to and including revocation of the outlet’s licence,” the NMDPRA stated.
The regulator has stepped up enforcement after several filling stations were sealed over alleged under-dispensing and other breaches.
About 20 stations were reportedly sealed between 2025 and 2026 for various infractions linked to fuel dispensing and other regulatory violations.
Marketers Move to Check Fuel Pumps
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) circulated the NMDPRA directive to its members and urged them to comply.
IPMAN Publicity Secretary, Chinedu Ukadike, said marketers must protect their reputation by ensuring customers receive the right quantity and quality of fuel.
“What drives the market is quality of the product, price of the product and quantity of the product,” Ukadike said.
He acknowledged that some pump attendants could engage in sharp practices, but said the association was working to reorient its members and workers.
Ukadike also said independent marketers would not tolerate practices that could cause customers to lose money at filling stations.
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) also directed its members to inspect their dispensing equipment.
PETROAN National President, Billy Gillis-Harry, said the association held an emergency meeting after receiving the NMDPRA warning and instructed members to check their meters.
“Equipment can be faulty over time because of usage,” he said, adding that members would ensure motorists received “one litre for one litre.”
NMDPRA Steps Up Enforcement
The latest directive follows earlier enforcement operations across different states.
In February, the regulator sealed 11 petrol stations in Rivers State over alleged under-dispensing, faulty pumps and other regulatory violations.
In Ogun State, two stations were also sealed in July over under-dispensing and other alleged sharp practices. One of the outlets was said to have repeatedly breached regulatory requirements.
The NMDPRA has warned that operators have a responsibility to regularly check their dispensing meters instead of waiting for regulators to discover faults.
Under-dispensing occurs when a pump delivers less fuel than the quantity displayed or paid for by a customer. Faulty or poorly calibrated equipment can cause the problem, although the regulator is also targeting deliberate manipulation.
The authority has asked IPMAN, PETROAN, the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) to notify their members and support compliance.
The crackdown comes as petrol prices vary across locations following the shift to a market-based downstream petroleum sector.
The NMDPRA said the inspections are aimed at protecting consumers, improving transparency and ensuring motorists receive the quantity of petroleum products for which they pay.
Motorists have also been advised to watch the quantity displayed on fuel pumps and request receipts after transactions.
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