Incidents of fuel pump manipulation and extortion at filling stations are on the rise across Nigeria, with motorists and commuters losing millions of litres of petrol annually to sharp practices by attendants and their collaborators.

According to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the country consumes about 50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily. But field checks revealed that poor regulatory oversight has allowed widespread under-dispensing, illegal surcharges, and other fraudulent practices to thrive at retail outlets nationwide.

Despite its mandate, the NMDPRA rarely inspects filling stations to verify the accuracy of dispensing machines or enforce compliance, leaving consumers vulnerable.

Investigations show that many attendants, often earning as little as N20,000 monthly, resort to pump manipulation, double-charging, and distraction tactics to extort customers.

In Lagos, Badmus Samami recounted being debited N22,000 for a N20,000 purchase. “The attendant initially refused to issue a receipt, citing lack of paper. When I insisted, it showed an extra N2,000 had been charged. Only after pressure from other customers did they admit it was an ‘error’,” he said.

Another motorist, John Theophilus, narrated how a filling station along Oshodi under-dispensed fuel into his 25-litre jerry can. “They claimed 25 litres had been dispensed, but it wasn’t full. After arguments, they eventually topped it up,” he said.

Similar experiences were reported in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Keke rider Etim Ufot explained: “Cheating gets worse during scarcity. That’s why we test with one-litre jars. Any station caught cheating quickly loses customers.”

Field checks in Calabar revealed pumps dispensing inconsistent volumes at Uddy King Filling Station. At Agims, one litre fell short, with attendants insisting customers’ containers were “too big.”

In Akure, Ondo State, motorists said nearly all independent marketers were guilty of meter tampering. “They’ve compromised the meters to cheat unsuspecting motorists,” said Remi Alabi, who added that only major marketers like NNPC and MRS maintained accurate pumps.

In Ekiti, commercial drivers and okada riders desert independent marketers in favour of NIPCO, BOVAS, and NNPC, which they regard as trustworthy. “We only buy from independents when we can’t wait on queues,” said motorcyclist Aina Ilori.

In Oyo, manipulation has become a daily frustration. At Ojo, a commercial driver, Akeem Oladimeji, lamented: “You buy N5,000 worth of petrol, and before hitting the road, your gauge reads half. Only a few like BOVAS and NNPC are fair.” Some operators also accused private stations of mixing fuel, worsening vehicle performance.

The Kebbi State government recently set up a special committee to address the menace. Public affairs analyst Muhammad Mustapha said: “Before now, almost 80% of stations under-dispensed fuel. But after public outcry, the government moved to enforce consumer rights.”

Despite the scale of the fraud, the NMDPRA appears absent on the field. The agency, responsible for monitoring bulk storage, distribution, and retail marketing of petroleum products, reportedly lacks adequate manpower for enforcement.

Efforts to reach the Authority’s Chief Executive, Engr. Farouk Ahmed, for comments proved unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls or text messages at the time of filing this report.