The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has detected cases of fuel stations allegedly under-dispensing petroleum products at retail outlets across the country.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, the regulator described under-dispensing as a serious breach of consumer trust and warned that it would intensify enforcement against affected outlets.
The NMDPRA directed all retail outlet operators nationwide to immediately recalibrate and verify their fuel dispensers and totalizers to ensure accurate measurement and that customers receive the quantity of fuel they pay for.
The authority said it would shut down outlets found to be deliberately defrauding consumers through inaccurate fuel dispensing.
The statement read: “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.”
The regulator added that it had intensified inspections and enforcement operations across the country.
It warned that filling stations found to be under-dispensing, using improperly calibrated equipment or otherwise compromising dispensing accuracy would be required to take immediate corrective action.
According to the NMDPRA, persistent or serious violations could attract sanctions, including the revocation of an outlet’s operating licence, in line with its regulations.
The directive comes amid rising concerns over the cost of petrol and the financial pressure facing Nigerian consumers.
