Di Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Abeokuta Field Office, don seal two filling stations for Ogun State for under-dispensing petrol and other offenses.
Di enforcement team wey Head of Distribution Systems Storage and Retailing Infrastructure, Olufemi Adebowale lead, carry out di operation for Akute/Ajuwon axis of di state.
Adebowale tok say di move become necessary because di affected stations dey always break regulatory requirements, and to protect consumers from sharp practices.
According to am, di action na part of ongoing efforts to enforce compliance with industry regulations, protect consumers, and ensure say petroleum marketers dispense correct quantity of products across di state.
He explain say records wey di authority get show say di fuel stations don consistently violate regulatory compliance by under-dispensing petroleum products, illegally breaking official seals wey dem place on di facility, and resuming operations without authorisation.
Such actions amount to violation of di Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and undermine efforts to protect consumers from exploitation, he add.
Adebowale state say, “Di Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority dey carry out lawful enforcement on dis facility. Our records don consistently show say dis company dey violate regulatory compliance.”
“E don high time we make am clear say dem no fit continue to under-dispense products, deliberately remove our seals, and believe say nothing go happen. Dat is why we dey here to enforce di provisions of di Petroleum Industry Act 2021,” he yarn.
“When e come to under-dispensing, dem dey cheat members of di public by not selling correct quantity of fuel. Also, once station dey sealed, e no get authorisation to operate. But dis station deliberately remove our seal and continue operations, wey be against di law.”
Adebowale reveal say di authority don dey monitor di station activities since 2025, and describe di violations as persistent despite several enforcement actions.
He reveal say di affected station don seal no fewer than six times within di period, but continue to remove di authority seals and ignore invitations wey di regulator extend.
“From our records, dis one don dey happen since last year. Di station don also refuse to honour our invitations. E don seal not less than six times, yet dem keep removing our seals and resuming operations,” he tok.
For di sanctions wey dey await di operators, Adebowale say di authority don serve di stations with enforcement notices, while di facilities go remain shut until all stipulated conditions meet.
He add say di NMDPRA management go also consider suspending di operating licence of di affected stations, while also sending strong warning to any fuel station wey intend to go against di rules of PIA.
“Dat one na against di rules. Dem no get any right to operate until we authorise dem to do so. Dis one na clear deviation from regulatory compliance. According to di Petroleum Industry Act, when dis happen, we must carry out enforcement, and dat is why we dey here today. Beyond conducting dis exercise, we dey also use dis opportunity to address di public through media. As long as operators dey do di right thing, dem no get anything to fear. However, for those wey dey go against compliance levels—whether through under-dispensing or direct violation of our seal—all necessary enforcement, penalties, and sanctions go strictly apply against such offenders,” he warn.
“A letter don serve, di station don completely shut down, and dem must meet all di conditions, including payment of applicable penalties. We dey also look at suspending di operating licence, subject to management approval,” he tok.
He warn say any further attempt to tamper with di seals or resume operations illegally go attract criminal prosecution.
