The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has sealed 11 petrol filling stations in Rivers State for engaging in sharp practices, including under-dispensing petroleum products, operating failed pumps and other regulatory infractions.
The affected stations are located in Obio-Akpor and Port Harcourt City Local Government Areas of the state.
The Regional Coordinator, South-South, NMDPRA, Victor Owodiasa, disclosed this on Friday while speaking with journalists after an enforcement exercise carried out under the Authority’s ‘Operation One Litre for One Litre’ surveillance initiative.
Owodiasa said the operation was aimed at protecting consumers and ensuring that buyers receive full value for their money.
“In exercise of our regulatory mandate, we have decided to upscale our surveillance activities to ensure that the general public gets one litre for one litre,” Owodiasa said.
“It is either you are dispensing within the approved bandwidth or we shut you down to correct the pumps.”
He said 11 facilities were sealed during the operation and would remain closed pending verification.
“For the operation of today, a total of eleven facilities were sealed, and they will remain sealed until the integrity of those pumps is confirmed okay before we unseal them,” he stated.
Owodiasa warned that repeat offenders risk losing their operating licences.
“It is not just about correcting the pumps for us to unseal them. If we discover that some of them have become persistent or perpetual offenders, we will be left with no option but to recommend revocation of their licences,” he said.
He added that the authority would apply the same enforcement standards to gas dispensing outlets.
“For gas, what we are doing for liquid is the same thing we are doing for gas. They must operate within the confines of the law,” Owodiasa said.
“If they are allowed to sell to the public, they are not expected to cheat the public.”
The NMDPRA coordinator noted that infractions could arise from deliberate acts or mechanical faults but stressed that operators must take responsibility.
“Cheating the public willfully or unwillfully is unacceptable. Sometimes it could be due to mechanical error, but operators are expected to routinely check their meters,” he explained.
“It should not be when the regulator comes that we discover under-dispensing or over-dispensing.”
He emphasised the Authority’s zero-tolerance stance on violations.
“We have zero tolerance for over-dispensing, under-dispensing and any form of infringement. We will not tolerate them cheating the public,” Owodiasa said.
Meanwhile, three gas dispensing outlets were also sealed during the exercise for under-dispensing to consumers.
Owodiasa urged members of the public to support the Authority by reporting suspected infractions.
“We call on members of the public to partner with us by reporting any suspected cases of sharp practices for prompt regulatory action,” he added.
