The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has directed its members across the country to immediately inspect their fuel dispensing meters following a warning from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) over under-dispensing of petroleum products.
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 the regulator raised concerns about the accuracy of fuel dispensers at retail outlets.
According to Gillis-Harry, the meeting lasted until about 10pm, after which PETROAN instructed its members nationwide to check their equipment as quickly as possible.
He explained that dispensing equipment can develop faults over time because of prolonged use, potentially resulting in either under-dispensing or over-dispensing of petroleum products.
Gillis-Harry said some PETROAN members had already begun inspecting their meters and assured motorists that the association was committed to ensuring that customers receive the exact quantity of fuel displayed on the pump.
He also advised motorists to pay close attention to the quantity shown on dispensing meters while purchasing fuel and to request receipts for their transactions. Consumers, he added, should be familiar with their vehicle’s fuel tank capacity and compare it with the quantity indicated by the dispenser.
The development followed a directive issued by the NMDPRA on Tuesday after the regulator said it had observed cases of under-dispensing at retail outlets nationwide.
The authority directed all filling station operators to immediately calibrate and verify their fuel dispensers and totalisers to ensure accurate measurement and guarantee that consumers receive the full quantity of products for which they pay.
The NMDPRA described under-dispensing as a serious breach of consumer trust and warned that stations found engaging in the practice or operating with improperly calibrated equipment would be required to take immediate corrective action.
It further warned that persistent or serious violations could attract sanctions, including the revocation of the affected outlet’s operating licence.
The regulator also directed major industry associations, including 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 PETROAN, to communicate the directive to their members and support compliance.
Gillis-Harry said PETROAN works with the Weights and Measures Division of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment as well as the NMDPRA on the maintenance and accuracy of fuel dispensing equipment.
He said the association had taken the regulator’s warning seriously and had begun engaging its members to identify and correct possible faults.
The nationwide checks are expected to increase scrutiny of fuel dispensing equipment and strengthen efforts to ensure that motorists and other consumers receive the quantity of petroleum products for which they pay.
The NMDPRA said the enforcement exercise is part of its broader responsibility to protect consumers, promote transparency and maintain the integrity of petroleum product transactions across the country.