NMDPRA orders immediate calibration of fuel pumps nationwide amid under-dispensing crackdown
Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority NMDPRA
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has directed all retail petroleum outlets to immediately calibrate and verify their dispensers and totalizers, citing observed cases of under-dispensing that it described as a serious breach of consumer trust.
In the circular made available for Dailyeconomy on Tuesday, the authority stated, “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.”
It instructed operators to “carry out immediate calibration and verification of all dispensers and totalizers” to guarantee accurate measurement so that “consumers receive the full value of the product they pay for.”
NMDPRA said it has intensified inspections and enforcement activities across the country.
Outlets found under-dispensing, operating with improperly calibrated equipment, or otherwise compromising accuracy “will be required to take immediate corrective action.”
Persistent or serious violations face sanctions “up to and including revocation of the outlet’s license, in line with NMDPRA’s regulations.”
The regulator specifically requested major industry associations—MEMAN, DAPPMAN, IPMAN and PETROAN to “promptly notify their members of this directive and to support full compliance across the industry.”
It concluded by reaffirming its commitment “to protecting consumers, promoting transparency, and upholding the integrity of petroleum product transactions nationwide.”
Under-dispensing, where fuel pumps deliver less product than the volume paid for or displayed has been a longstanding complaint among Nigerian motorists and a frequent target of regulatory action. NMDPRA, created under the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 as the technical and commercial regulator for midstream and downstream operations, routinely conducts surveillance under initiatives such as “One Litre for One Litre.”
In recent years and into 2026, the authority has sealed dozens of filling stations across states including Delta, Rivers, Kogi, Ogun and others for under-dispensing, operating without valid licences, or related infractions.
Officials have repeatedly stressed that “10 litres must be 10 litres” and warned of fines, temporary closures and potential licence suspensions for repeat offenders.
The practice erodes public confidence, especially amid higher fuel prices in the deregulated market, and has drawn collaboration with bodies such as the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to tackle market abuses.
