The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has issued a stern warning to fuel station operators regarding the alteration of petroleum pumps. Any station found guilty of this offense will face severe sanctions, including the revocation of operating licenses, suspension of operations, or even a complete shutdown, depending on the seriousness of the violation.

During an interactive session with the commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) in Abuja on Friday, Farouk Ahmed, CEO of NMDPRA, highlighted the significant concerns surrounding the adjustment of fuel pumps by station operators.

Ahmed emphasized the importance of this issue, stating, “What we are doing now is sending our staff to conduct on-the-spot checks at various petrol stations. Customers may not realize they have been cheated until they measure the fuel themselves. We sometimes perform physical measurements by purchasing one litre of fuel and observing the dispensing process to ascertain any tampering with the pump.”

In addition to addressing pump alteration, Ahmed pledged to strengthen collaboration between NMDPRA and RMAFC to enhance revenue generation for the federation. He stated, “We have initiated this partnership to explore areas where we can improve revenue generation or reduce costs.”

Ahmed also encouraged citizens to consider investing in the midstream sector of the economy, highlighting the investment opportunities available. He assured potential investors that NMDPRA would provide them with guidelines and policies necessary for establishing projects such as gas plants.

In response, Mr. Bello Shehu, chairman of RMAFC, expressed the objective of the engagement between the two organizations, which aims to reinforce their partnership and promote mutual growth.