The Federal Government, through its Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, has vowed to clamp down on filling stations selling adulterated and substandard petroleum products across the country.

The regulator disclosed that it had commenced routine random sampling inspections as part of a systematic quality certification process aimed at ensuring petroleum products sold in Nigeria comply with approved standards.

The move, it said, is designed to protect consumers and guarantee their right to quality fuel. In a video shared online by the authority on Friday, officials led by the Manager of the Laboratory Services and Industrial Chemicals Department, Mr Aminu Abubakar, were seen visiting various filling stations to collect petroleum product samples for on-the-spot testing.

Explaining the exercise, Abubakar said the inspections were part of the agency’s ongoing quality assurance mandate covering the entire supply chain. He noted that Nigerians were entitled to receive petroleum products that meet required specifications and that the authority would enforce compliance.

“This is a normal routine quality on-the-spot check that we usually carry out. We call it random sampling. That is what we call cradle-to-grave quality certification of petroleum products. So that’s exactly what we are doing now. It’s very important for Nigerians to know that it is their right to have very good quality petroleum products in their vehicles.

“The law provides that NMDPRA should ensure that only petroleum products that meet certain required standards are sold to the Nigerian public. And that’s the job we are doing,” Abubakar said.

He added that the agency would not allow consumers to be sold substandard fuel and urged members of the public to report any suspected cases to the authority.

“No customer or Nigerian should buy any petroleum product that is substandard. So, in the case of any contact with any retail outlet where you purchase a petroleum product that is not up to that quality, you have the right to reach out to any NMDPRA office nationwide to lay your complaint, and we will deal with that,” he stressed.

In another development, the Authority Chief Executive, Saidu Mohammed, reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to strengthening regulatory efficiency and supporting a fair and transparent downstream sector.

The ACE stated this recently during a courtesy visit by the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria, noting that the agency will continue to promote a level playing field for all operators across the midstream and downstream sectors.

He commended the association for its sustained role in supporting critical national infrastructure and service delivery across the country. Mohammed further assured the delegation that their concerns and requests would be carefully considered, with the authority committed to taking appropriate steps in line with its regulatory mandate.

Earlier, the National President of NOGASA, Mr Benneth Korie, appealed for the introduction of a supplier licence tailored to the specialised operations of the association and its members to ensure continued national connectivity and efficient service delivery.

Meanwhile, a delegation from Renaissance Africa recently paid a courtesy visit to the chief executive, reaffirming its commitment to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. He emphasised that regulatory stability is key to investor confidence and sector growth, commending the company’s strong Nigerian management and its role in the midstream space.

The Managing Director of Renaissance, Mr Tony Attah, stated that the company aims to drive production growth and leverage gas for industrialisation. He stressed the need to deepen domestic gas utilisation, noting that export alone cannot industrialise Nigeria.