The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has sealed two filling stations in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, after an inspection uncovered cases of under-dispensing of petroleum products.

The affected outlets are the MRS Filling Station on Azikiwe Road and Stageoil Filling Station along Aba Road.

The enforcement action followed a routine surveillance exercise carried out by NMDPRA officials across parts of the city on Thursday, October 8, 2026. The inspection was designed to check the quantity and quality of petroleum products being sold to consumers, as well as compliance with safety requirements at retail outlets.

Other stations visited during the exercise included the NNPC Mega Filling Station at Lagos Bus Stop in the old Port Harcourt Township, as well as Reinoil, TotalEnergies and an NNPC filling station in the Trans Amadi area.

Speaking after the inspection, NMDPRA Executive Director, Health, Safety, Environment and Community, Dr Mustapha Lamorde, said the exercise was primarily aimed at protecting consumers from being short-changed at filling stations.

According to Lamorde, inspectors checked three major areas: the quantity of petroleum products dispensed, the quality of those products and the safety conditions of the retail outlets.

The surveillance covered Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) and Dual Purpose Kerosene (kerosene). Officials also collected random product samples for immediate screening as part of the regulator's monitoring process.

Lamorde said some outlets were found to be dispensing less product than the quantity indicated on their pumps, prompting the immediate sealing of the affected stations pending further regulatory action.

He also disclosed that one of the outlets inspected was found to be over-dispensing fuel without apparently being aware of the problem. The operator was directed to stop sales and recalibrate the affected pump before resuming operations.

While under-dispensing short-changes motorists, over-dispensing can also result in losses for the station operator. The regulator therefore directed that the faulty pump be corrected before sales continued.

Lamorde said stations that complied with the required standards were encouraged to maintain their level of compliance, stressing that the central objective of the exercise was to ensure consumers received the quantity and quality of petroleum products for which they paid.

The NMDPRA official also said such inspections were not one-off exercises, noting that the authority maintains field surveillance across the country to monitor petroleum retail outlets and enforce regulatory requirements.

He urged consumers and members of the public to report suspected violations through the NMDPRA's official channels so that the authority can investigate and take appropriate action.

The inspection was followed by the signing of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding at the NMDPRA office in Port Harcourt involving the regulator, Bureau Veritas and Ace Energy Group.

The partnership is focused on strengthening petroleum-product testing, quality assurance and laboratory capabilities in Nigeria. Lamorde said the collaboration would help improve field analysis, standardise operating procedures and support efforts to align testing practices with international standards, including ISO certification.

Despite the new partnership, Lamorde stressed that the NMDPRA would retain its regulatory responsibility and accountability for petroleum-product quality in the country.

The latest enforcement exercise underscores the regulator's continued focus on pump accuracy, product quality and safety at filling stations as motorists continue to rely heavily on retail outlets for petrol, diesel and other petroleum products.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia