NMDPRA to marketers: Selling into jerrycan, altering meter, fuel hoarding can lead to loss of license

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has announced that marketers risk losing their licenses if they hoard fuel, sell into jerry cans, or tamper with their meters.

During an inspection tour in Abuja on Friday,  NMDPRA’s Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure, Ogbugo Ukoha, issued the warning.

He emphasised that retail petrol stations must stop selling fuel to black marketers, as this poses significant safety risks and violates federal regulations.

“You need to take this warning very seriously,” Ukoha stated during the inspection. “If you need security reinforcements, speak to your management.”

The regulator, via its official X handle, also reiterated its stance, stating: “NMDPRA embarks on a war against the illegal sale of petroleum products, especially PMS in jerry cans.

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Filling stations are advised to desist from servicing illegal peddlers; failure to do so will result in the suspension of retail licenses.”

This warning follows recent explanations from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which cited supply disruptions due to vessel discharge issues and bad weather conditions as reasons for the fuel shortage.

Despite promises from the NNPCL to resolve the crisis, fuel scarcity continues to affect the northern region.

The government remains committed to ensuring fuel availability and is working closely with stakeholders to restore normal operations.

However, it has made it clear that any station caught engaging in illegal activities will face severe consequences, including the potential loss of their license.