The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has directed its members nationwide to immediately inspect their dispensing meters following concerns raised by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) over the under-dispensing of petroleum products.
PETROAN National President, Billy Gillis-Harry, disclosed this on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
He said the association convened an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council on Tuesday after the NMDPRA raised the issue, with discussions lasting until about 10pm.
“PETROAN circulated a message around the country, calling our members to check their meters as quickly as possible,” Gillis-Harry said.
According to him, several members had already begun inspecting their equipment, noting that faulty meters could result in either under-dispensing or over-dispensing of petroleum products.
“Equipment can be faulty over time because of usage,” he said, recalling that he had previously lost money in his own retail business when a faulty meter dispensed more fuel than customers paid for.
Gillis-Harry assured motorists that PETROAN members would continue to ensure that customers receive the quantity of fuel indicated on dispensing pumps.
“But I can tell you that PETROAN members will, at all times, insist on making sure that they sell their products one litre for one litre,” he said.
PETROAN advises motorists
The PETROAN president also urged motorists to pay close attention to the quantity displayed on dispensing meters when purchasing fuel and to request receipts for their transactions.
He advised customers to be familiar with their vehicles’ fuel-tank capacities and compare them with the quantity shown on the dispenser.
“Oftentimes, we educate our staff to call the attention of the patron to check the meter while it is being dispensed. And also to get the customer to check after the product has been dispensed,” he said.
Gillis-Harry said PETROAN works with the Weights and Measures Division of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment as well as the NMDPRA to ensure that dispensing meters remain functional and accurate.
“PETROAN consistently works with the Weights and Measures Division of the Ministry of Trade and Investment, and also the NMDPRA. These are the two regulatory authorities that ensure that our meters are functional. And they are up to date and accurate,” he said.
NMDPRA warns filling stations
The NMDPRA has warned filling station operators against under-dispensing petroleum products, saying outlets found short-changing consumers could face sanctions, including the revocation of their operating licences.
Gillis-Harry said PETROAN had taken the regulator’s concerns seriously and had commenced efforts to identify and address possible equipment faults among its members.
“But we took what the NMDPRA called our attention to yesterday very seriously. And we already started working on that,” he said.
