Key points

• Motorists across states report being cheated through fuel pump tampering.

• Independent stations accused more often than major marketers.

• Regulators lack enough staff to enforce compliance nationwide.

Across the country, motorists are raising their voices against what they describe as a deliberate scheme by filling station attendants to cheat them.

From Lagos to Ibadan, Calabar to Akure, the story is the same: Nigerians are paying for more fuel than they receive.

Investigations by Financial Vanguard found that many petrol attendants and managers manipulate pumps to under-dispense fuel, leaving consumers shortchanged.

The practice, which worsens during periods of scarcity, has become so common that motorists now approach many filling stations with suspicion.

Some attendants, earning as little as N20,000 a month, say poverty drives them into these sharp practices. But for consumers, the impact is severe.

Victims share their experiences

In Lagos, motorist Badmus Samami recalled being billed N22,000 instead of N20,000 at a major station in Iyana Isolo.

“I paid with my ATM card, but when I insisted on a receipt, I discovered N22,000 was deducted. The attendant called it an error, but I believe it was intentional,” he said.

Another driver, John Theophilus, shared how his 25-litre jerrycan exposed a station’s manipulation.

“The pump read 25 litres, but the can was not full. After arguing, they reluctantly topped it up,” he explained.

Commercial drivers and tricycle riders in Ibadan echoed similar frustrations.

“You will buy N5,000 fuel, but before you hit the road, your gauge drops like you only bought half,” said Akeem Oladimeji, a bus driver.

Riders now avoid certain stations entirely, choosing trusted ones like BOVAS and NNPC instead.

Manipulation worsens during scarcity

Motorists in Uyo and Akure said cheating intensifies whenever petrol is scarce.

Etim Ufot, a tricycle rider in Uyo, said: “We use small jars to test the pumps. If a station cheats us, we don’t go back. They lose customers.”

A visit to several stations in Uyo showed mixed results. While some attendants dispensed the correct volume, others sold petrol at inflated prices and with faulty pumps.

In Calabar, a reporter tested multiple pumps and found inconsistencies, with some requiring more fuel to fill the same container.

In Ondo, motorists said only stations owned by major marketers like NNPC and MRS were reliable.

“Independent marketers tamper with their pumps,” one customer said. “That’s why most of us prefer major stations.”

Consumers lose trust in independent marketers

In Ekiti, the distrust of independent stations was widespread. Taxi and motorcycle operators said they mostly patronize stations owned by major marketers such as NIPCO, AA Rano, and BOVAS.

“Independent stations cheat too much,” said Aina Ilori, an okada rider. “I only go there when queues at major stations are too long.”

Investigations confirmed that some independent stations sold at slightly higher prices while dispensing less fuel than paid for, further driving customers away.

Regulators missing in action

Despite widespread complaints, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has struggled to monitor compliance.

The agency, responsible for checking pumps and sanctioning erring stations, reportedly lacks enough personnel to cover the country’s thousands of outlets.

Consumers say this vacuum allows unscrupulous marketers to act with impunity. Even when complaints are lodged, little action is taken.

In Kebbi, however, the state government recently set up a committee to tackle the menace after public outcry.

Still, at the national level, enforcement remains weak. Calls and text messages to the NMDPRA chief executive, Engr. Farouk Ahmed, went unanswered at the time of reporting.

A cycle of frustration

The result is a cycle of distrust between motorists and fuel stations.

Major marketers attract long queues, while independent outlets are avoided, especially by commercial operators who rely on every litre.

For motorists like Sikiru Ajayi, an okada rider in Ibadan, the cheating cuts deep.

“Even one litre matters to us. Some stations claim to sell a litre, but when you measure, it’s less. That’s why we queue at trusted stations, even if it takes hours.”

Unless regulators step up, Nigerians fear the manipulation will continue unchecked — bleeding consumers dry at the pump, litre by litre.