By Udeme Akpan, Emma Amaize, Egufe Yafugborhi, Ozioruva Aliu, Emma Unah, Ike Uchechukwu, Emem Idio, Ochuko Akuopha, Marie-Therese Nanlong, Dayo Johnson, Rotimi Ojomoyela, and Adeola Badru
There are growing indications of widespread manipulation of fuel pumps at filling stations across Nigeria, leaving millions of consumers cheated of petrol each year.
Investigations by Financial Vanguard reveal that pump attendants and their collaborators increasingly deploy sharp practices to short-change customers of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, commonly known as petrol.
According to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, petrol consumption in the country currently stands at about 50 million litres daily. Yet, checks show that much of this volume is not fully delivered to motorists due to widespread under-dispensing at pumps.
Despite this, the regulator rarely inspects filling stations to verify compliance with functional dispensing machines, leaving loopholes that unscrupulous marketers exploit to the detriment of consumers.
Driven by low wages and hardship
Findings suggest that pump attendants, often earning as little as N20,000 monthly, are driven by poverty and the current economic hardship to engage in fraudulent practices.
A Lagos resident, Badmus Samami, narrated his ordeal after purchasing fuel worth N20,000 at a major filling station in Iyana Isolo.
“I paid with my ATM card and demanded a receipt. The attendant resisted, citing excuses such as lack of paper. I persisted, and eventually got a receipt showing N22,000 was deducted. He apologised, calling it an error,” Samami explained.
Such incidents, consumers allege, are rarely accidental. Pump attendants sometimes block customers from viewing pump readings or distract them by offering unrelated items, creating opportunities for manipulation.
Widespread malpractice
Reports indicate that manipulation methods include altering pump meters, dispensing less fuel than paid for, and inflating electronic payment amounts. These practices, though illegal, often go unchecked due to lax monitoring and weak enforcement.
Consumer protection groups warn that the scale of the malpractice amounts to millions of litres of petrol lost yearly. The impact is particularly harsh in a country where fuel is a lifeline for households, transportation, and small businesses.
Calls for stronger regulation
Stakeholders have called on the NMDPRA to strengthen its oversight role. Regular inspections, transparent monitoring technologies, and strict penalties for offenders, they argue, are essential to restore consumer confidence.
Energy experts stress that unchecked malpractice not only hurts individual motorists but also erodes trust in Nigeria’s downstream sector, threatening broader energy reforms.
As Nigeria grapples with economic strain, pump manipulation at filling stations adds another layer of hardship for ordinary citizens. Without decisive regulatory intervention, the practice risks becoming entrenched, leaving millions to pay more while receiving less.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
