PETROAN orders nationwide meter checks after NMDPRA under-dispensing warning

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has instructed its members nationwide to inspect their dispensing meters, following a warning from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) about alleged under-dispensing of petroleum products. PETROAN National President, Billy Gillis-Harry, revealed this on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television's The Morning Brief programme.

After receiving concerns from the regulator, PETROAN held an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council on Tuesday, which lasted until approximately 10 pm. Members were then directed to check their equipment promptly.

Gillis-Harry emphasized that prolonged use of dispensing equipment could affect its performance, leading to either under-measuring or dispensing more fuel than customers paid for. He recounted a past experience where a faulty meter had cost him money in his own retail business. The president assured motorists that PETROAN members were committed to ensuring accurate fuel dispensing, stating that they would always ensure customers received one litre for one litre.

He advised motorists to monitor the quantity displayed on the dispensing meter when purchasing fuel, request receipts after making purchases, and familiarize themselves with their vehicle's fuel capacity to compare it with the quantity indicated by the dispenser. Gillis-Harry highlighted that PETROAN collaborates with the Weights and Measures Division of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and the NMDPRA, to maintain the functionality, accuracy, and up-to-date status of fuel dispensing meters.

The NMDPRA has previously warned filling station operators against under-dispensing petroleum products, threatening sanctions, including the revocation of operating licences for those found short-changing customers.