Emmanuel OchayiIn a stern warning to petrol station owners, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has declared its intent to impose penalties on those found tampering with fuel pumps.
Speaking during an interactive session with commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) in Abuja, Farouk Ahmed, the CEO of NMDPRA, expressed deep concerns regarding the widespread alteration of fuel pumps by filling station operators.
Farouk Ahmed said: “The Federal Government and oil regulatory organizations are deeply concerned about this issue. We cannot allow fuel consumers to be cheated by unscrupulous operators any longer.”
Ahmed went on to explain that petrol outlets caught pouring fuel from modified pumps would be subject to penalties, the severity of which would depend on the gravity of the offense. Penalties could range from the revocation of operating licenses to suspension or even shutdown.
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“We are actively taking measures to combat this problem. Our staff is conducting on-the-spot checks at various petrol stations to ensure compliance. Consumers should not have to second-guess the quantity of fuel they receive.”
He elaborated on the inspection process, stating that they conduct both physical measurements and quality checks to detect any tampering with fuel pumps.
“Sometimes we do a physical measurement where we go to some stations and buy one litre, look at that environment to see whether that one litre is really one litre. Then we will know whether or not they have tampered with the pump.” he said
In addition to cracking down on pump tampering, Ahmed emphasized the importance of revenue generation for the federation. The NMDPRA aims to collaborate closely with the RMAFC to achieve this goal.
“We have initiated a collaboration to enhance revenue generation for the federation. We must explore avenues to either generate more revenue or reduce costs.”
Ahmed encouraged citizens to invest in the midstream sector of the economy, offering guidance and policies to prospective investors.
“Investment opportunities abound in the midstream sector. If you wish to establish a gas plant or explore other ventures, come to us, and we will provide the necessary guidelines and support. Together, we can contribute to the growth of our economy.”
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