NMDPRA Shuts Two Port Harcourt Filling Stations, Partners Firms to Improve Fuel Quality Checks
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has sealed two filling stations in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over alleged under-dispensing of petroleum products, as part of efforts to strengthen consumer protection and improve fuel quality monitoring.
The affected outlets are MRS Filling Station on Azikiwe Road and Stageoil Filling Station along Aba Road. The enforcement action followed a routine inspection exercise conducted by the regulatory agency to assess fuel quantity, product quality and compliance with safety requirements.
Speaking after the inspection, Dr Mustapha Lamorde, NMDPRA’s Executive Director of Health, Safety, Environment and Community, said the exercise was aimed at ensuring that motorists receive the correct quantity and quality of petroleum products for which they pay.
According to Lamorde, officials inspected dispensing pumps, collected petroleum product samples for preliminary screening and examined the general safety conditions of retail outlets. The checks covered petrol, diesel and kerosene.
He explained that stations found violating regulatory requirements would face appropriate sanctions, while compliant operators were encouraged to maintain the required standards.
The authority also identified a station that was reportedly dispensing more fuel than indicated, directing the operator to suspend sales temporarily and recalibrate its pump before resuming business.
NMDPRA Strengthens Laboratory Testing Capacity
Alongside its enforcement activities, the regulator has entered into a partnership with Bureau Veritas and Ace Energy and Power Solutions Limited to improve petroleum product testing, quality assurance and laboratory development in Nigeria.
The agreement was formalised through a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Port Harcourt on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
Lamorde, who represented the NMDPRA Chief Executive, Mallam Rabiu Abdullahi Umar, said the collaboration would strengthen the agency’s technical capabilities through staff training, improved testing procedures, modern laboratory equipment and alignment with international standards.
He added that the initiative would support the authority’s efforts to obtain international laboratory accreditation and improve the reliability of petroleum product analysis across the country.
The regulator currently operates nine laboratories in different locations nationwide, with facilities in Port Harcourt, Lagos, Calabar and Warri included in the initial phase of its laboratory modernisation programme. Further upgrades are planned for laboratories serving inland locations.
The authority is also working towards digitalising laboratory operations to improve surveillance, product certification and compliance monitoring throughout the petroleum supply chain.
Consumers Urged to Report Violations
The NMDPRA reiterated that protecting consumers remains central to its regulatory responsibilities, particularly amid concerns about fuel prices and the need to ensure motorists receive value for their money.
The agency said it would continue conducting inspections and taking action against operators found to be violating established petroleum regulations.
Motorists were encouraged to remain vigilant when purchasing fuel and report suspected cases of under-dispensing, poor product quality or other irregularities through the authority’s official communication channels.
The combined enforcement and laboratory development initiatives are expected to strengthen oversight of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market and improve confidence in the quality and quantity of products sold to consumers.
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