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NMDPRA seals MRS and Stageoil stations in Port Harcourt over alleged under-dispensing of petroleum products.
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Rainoil is queried over alleged under-dispensing and suspected substandard products, while TotalEnergies is cautioned over alleged over-dispensing.
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The authority partners Bureau Veritas and Ace Energy and Power Solutions Limited to modernise laboratories, train personnel and strengthen fuel quality control.
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Upgraded laboratories will support advanced petroleum testing, digital certification and efforts to secure international accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025.
October 09, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has shut two filling stations in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over alleged under-dispensing of petroleum products, as it intensifies efforts to enforce fuel quality and dispensing standards across the country.
The affected outlets are MRS filling station in the CFC area and Stageoil filling station at Craft Centre along Aba Road. Their closure followed a regulatory surveillance exercise to ensure that marketers comply with prescribed standards and do not short-change motorists.
The enforcement action coincides with a partnership between the NMDPRA, Bureau Veritas and Ace Energy and Power Solutions Limited to strengthen petroleum product testing, upgrade laboratory facilities and improve quality assurance across the midstream and downstream petroleum sectors.
The Executive Director, Health, Safety, Environment and Community, Dr Mustapha Lamorde, representing the authority’s Chief Executive, Mallam Rabiu Umar, said the sealed stations could face appropriate sanctions if investigations establish violations.
He urged motorists and other members of the public to report suspected under-dispensing, product quality concerns and other irregularities at filling stations to enable the authority to investigate and take necessary action.
During the surveillance exercise, Rainoil on Station Road was queried over alleged under-dispensing and the sale of products suspected to be below the required specifications.
TotalEnergies at Garrison Junction was also cautioned over alleged over-dispensing, while the NNPC filling station in Trans-Amadi was commended for meeting the required service standards.
The authority’s interventions underscore its efforts to strengthen consumer protection and ensure that petroleum products sold to the public meet prescribed quality and quantity requirements.
Laboratory Modernisation
As part of the broader regulatory drive, the NMDPRA has entered into a partnership with Bureau Veritas and Ace Energy and Power Solutions Limited to improve laboratory capacity, staff training and the reliability of petroleum product testing.
The agreement, signed at the authority’s office in Port Harcourt, is expected to provide access to modern testing technology and strengthen procedures for monitoring the quality of petrol, diesel, kerosene and other petroleum products.
Lamorde said the collaboration would support the authority’s pursuit of international accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025, a standard for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.
He explained that accreditation would help improve confidence in laboratory results used to determine whether petroleum products comply with applicable specifications.
According to him, the NMDPRA operates nine laboratories nationwide, with its modernisation programme being implemented in phases.
The first phase covers coastal facilities in Port Harcourt, Lagos, Calabar and Warri, while the second phase will extend to Abuja, Kaduna, Kano and other inland locations.
Lamorde also disclosed that the authority was digitalising laboratory operations to improve product certification, documentation and compliance monitoring.
Plans are also underway to establish a National Reference Laboratory that will undertake confirmatory testing, research and training, providing additional technical support for petroleum product regulation.
He said the upgraded Port Harcourt laboratory could detect sulphur concentrations as low as 10 parts per billion, highlighting its capacity to conduct more sensitive tests on petroleum products.
The laboratory also tests key properties of petrol, diesel and kerosene to determine whether they meet the required specifications.
Bureau Veritas Managing Director, Daniel Wilbert, welcomed the partnership, pledging to contribute the company’s international expertise in testing, inspection and certification to support quality and safety standards in Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
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Background
The NMDPRA is responsible for regulating Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum operations, including activities relating to petroleum product quality, distribution and retailing.
Its regulatory responsibilities include monitoring filling stations, checking compliance with dispensing requirements and conducting product tests to ensure that petroleum products meet prescribed standards.
Under-dispensing occurs when a customer receives less fuel than the quantity indicated by the dispensing pump, while the sale of substandard products can affect vehicle performance and raise environmental and safety concerns.
The latest enforcement exercise and laboratory modernisation partnership reflect the authority’s twin approach of pursuing compliance through field inspections while strengthening the technical capacity required to detect and address violations.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
