NMDPRA seals 14 filling stations over infractions in fuel price hike

*The Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority warns the industry regulator has strict mandate to punish  offenders, including revoking licence of operations, sanctions, payment of penalty, and invalidation of transaction in order to protect consumers from market abuses

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In a move to protect consumers against unfair business practices, the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), otherwise referred to The Authority,  has sealed off 14 stations for dispensing fuel above approved pump price in Kano, Northern Nigeria.

ConsumerConnect learnt Mr. Aliyu Muhammad-Sama, NMDPRA Coordinator in Kano State, disclosed this during a monitoring and surveillance exercise Thursday, January 5, 2023, in Kano.

Muhammad-Sama noted The Authority shut the stations for dispensing fuel at N295 and N300 per litre, far above the approved pump price as well as breach of surveillance for confirmation discharge and price regulations.

He stated: “We have strict regulation to punish offenders which include revoking their licence of operation, sanction, payment of penalty and invalidation of transaction.

“For now, the sealed fuel stations will be sanctioned to pay N150,000 per pump nozle so long as they are willing to revert to prices that are convenient for the public.”

The NMDPRA Coordinator, however, said that major marketers were dispensing fuel at N185 per litre.

According to him, The Authority had sealed off over 120 fuel stations in the state as of December 2022.

“For any station that refuses to discharge or sells above the stipulated price, we will invalidate their equalisation transaction.

“Invalidation is The Authority that pays equalisation payment of N45 per litre for fuel they transport from Lagos or Port-Harcourt,” said he.