The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Association of Nigeria has directed its members nationwide to inspect their fuel dispensing meters following a warning from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority over cases of under-dispensing at filling stations.
PETROAN National President, Billy Gillis-Harry, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief. He said the association convened an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council on Tuesday after receiving the regulator’s concerns.
Gillis-Harry said the meeting lasted until about 10pm, after which PETROAN circulated instructions to its members to immediately check their dispensing equipment. He explained that meters could become faulty through prolonged use, potentially resulting in either customers receiving less fuel than they paid for or filling stations dispensing more than the quantity charged.
The NMDPRA had, on Tuesday, directed all retail outlet operators to immediately calibrate and verify their dispensers and totalisers, saying it had observed incidents of under-dispensing nationwide. The regulator described the practice as a serious breach of consumer trust.
The authority warned that filling stations found to be under-dispensing, operating improperly calibrated equipment or otherwise compromising dispensing accuracy would be required to take corrective action. Persistent or serious violations could attract sanctions up to and including revocation of operating licences.
The regulator also directed industry associations, including PETROAN, IPMAN, DAPPMAN and MEMAN, to notify their members and support compliance with the directive.
Gillis-Harry assured motorists that PETROAN members would work to ensure that customers receive the quantity displayed on the pump. He also advised motorists to watch the meter while fuel is being dispensed, request receipts and be familiar with their vehicles’ fuel-tank capacities so they can identify unusual discrepancies.
The latest warning follows previous enforcement actions against filling stations. In July, the NMDPRA sealed two stations in Ogun State over alleged under-dispensing and other regulatory breaches.
The development comes amid heightened scrutiny of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market, where rising petrol prices have increased the financial burden on consumers and heightened concerns over practices that could result in motorists receiving less fuel for the amount paid.
