FG Threatens Fuel Operators with Sanctions over Pump Adjustment

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has said it will sanction petrol stations operators who adjust their fuel pump meters.

NMDPRA Chief Executive, Mr. Farouk Ahmed,  gave this warning at the weekend  during an interactive session with commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) in Abuja.

According to him, petrol stations caught dispensing fuel with adjusted fuel pumps would face heavy sanction.

He listed the sanctions to include revocation of operating licenses, suspension from operation or shut down depending on the gravity of the offence.

Ahmed noted fuel pump adjustment  was a major concern to the oil regulatory bodies and the Federal Government.

“What we are doing now is that we have some of our staff going round to take on-the-spot checks of some of the petrol stations.

“If you drive into a station, drive out, you will not know if you have been cheated until you do a measurement.

“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.

Ahmed gave the assurance that the authority would continue to collaborate with the RMAFC to generate more revenue for the federation.

“We have started the engagement but this is just a formal collaboration on areas where we can improve the revenue generation for the federation.

“There are two areas we have to look at which are either to generate revenue or cut costs,” he said.

He called on citizens to invest in the midstream sector of the economy.

“For example, if you want to build a gas plant, come to us, we will give you the guidelines, the policies, and you will come and invest.

“The area you want to invest in will determine the cost of investment; the investment opportunities are there,” he said.

RMAFC Chairman, Mr. Bello Shehu, said the engagement between both organisations was to strengthen their partnership.

“We are here in order for them to enlighten us on what they do and what we can do as a commission to assist them to better boost revenue generation for Nigeria.

“We are interested in what the authority does to enable us to monitor better and know the right questions to ask which will enable us to give appropriate information,” he said.