The recent investigation by Vanguard has again exposed a troubling reality for Nigerian consumers: systematic cheating at filling stations through pump manipulation and other shady practices.
Development Diaries reports that despite Nigerians consuming about 50 million litres of fuel daily, according to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), many are not getting full value for their money.
This is a problem of weak oversight that motorists are now forced to bear, as it is either being charged more than authorised payments or under-dispensing fuel into tanks and containers.
What makes this situation worse is the regulator’s near absence at the points of sale.
According to the report, NMDPRA lacks adequate personnel and rarely inspects retail outlets to enforce compliance. This has created room for pump attendants, many of whom are poorly paid, to exploit customers.
While poverty and hardship may explain their desperation, it does not excuse cheating ordinary Nigerians who are already struggling with high fuel prices.
Experiences shared by victims across Lagos, Uyo, and Calabar highlight how widespread this malpractice has become.
Customers have had to demand receipts, measure fuel with jerry cans, and even argue in public before stations grudgingly dispense the right quantity.
It is understood that these sharp practices worsen during periods of fuel scarcity when desperation meets exploitation.
While some outlets, like those monitored in Uyo, claim to sell accurately under the watch of strict managers, too many others continue to manipulate meters unchecked.
It is encouraging that in Kebbi State, a committee has been set up by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to enforce consumer protection rights. This shows that state-level intervention is possible.
However, such measures cannot remain isolated. Part of the mandate of the NMDPRA is to ensure a secure supply of products, promote competition, and establish customer protection measures.
Hence, Development Diaries calls on the NMDPRA, in partnership with state governments and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), to begin a nationwide effort to ensure fairness in fuel dispensing.
Pump calibration should be strictly monitored, offenders punished publicly, and consumers empowered to report irregularities with guaranteed follow-up action.
The exploitation of citizens at filling stations is a clear breach of trust and a daily robbery in broad daylight.
