The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has engaged petroleum marketers and intensified surveillance against sharp practices in Sokoto and Kebbi States.
The NMDPRA coordinator in charge of Sokoto and Kebbi states, Ali Ajimi, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on Thursday in Sokoto.
Ajimi said at present, petroleum product prices are largely determined by prevailing market forces, adding that the nation’s petroleum market remains fully deregulated.
He disclosed that there is no directive on fixing a uniform pump price for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, for marketers across the country.
He explained that under the deregulated market framework, petroleum marketers are expected to independently source products and sell them based on prevailing economic realities, including transportation costs, supply dynamics and other market considerations.
On the rising fuel costs in parts of the country, the Coordinator maintained that Sokoto and neighbouring areas remain relatively competitive compared to several locations outside the region, where pump prices are significantly higher.
According to him, petrol prices in the area currently range between N1,200 and slightly above, noting that the authority has continued to engage marketers with the aim of ensuring affordability and preventing arbitrary price increases.
“We are doing very well when compared with some other parts of the country. We are also intensifying engagements with marketers to see how prices can be moderated further in the interest of consumers,” Ajimi said.
He attributed part of the pricing challenge in the North-West to logistics constraints, explaining that the long distance between coastal depots and inland states such as Sokoto significantly impacts distribution costs and delivery timelines.
Ajimi disclosed that petroleum products loaded from coastal depots often take several days before reaching Sokoto due to transportation challenges and road conditions, a situation he said inevitably affects operational costs across the supply chain.
“Because of the nature of the roads and the distance between Sokoto and the coastal depots, products loaded today may not arrive here until about 10 days later. Therefore, what we monitor today are often products that were loaded more than a week ago,” he explained.
The NMDPRA coordinator further revealed that the authority maintains constant engagement with marketers through inspections, consultations and stakeholder meetings aimed at finding practical solutions to supply and pricing concerns.
“Engagement is not a one-off activity. Whenever we conduct inspections, that is part of the engagement process.
“We also regularly invite marketers and their representatives for discussions on possible ways of improving supply and reducing costs. These engagements are continuous,” he said.
On consumer protection, Ajimi warned filling stations against under-dispensing petroleum products, assuring Nigerians that the authority has strengthened surveillance mechanisms and would not hesitate to sanction any operator found violating regulatory standards.
He urged members of the public to promptly report any filling station suspected of dispensing below approved volumes or selling substandard products.
He noted that NMDPRA inspection teams are equipped with calibrated measuring devices and quality testing kits to verify complaints at any time.
“If consumers discover any station dispensing below the approved quantity or suspect poor product quality, they should immediately alert us.
“We have the equipment, the personnel and the mandate to respond promptly. Our teams operate daily and can even carry out inspections at night when necessary,” Ajimi stated.
The State Coordinator also disclosed that NMDPRA is working closely with the State Ministries of Energy Resources, Commerce and Industry, as well as other relevant stakeholders, to strengthen consumer protection and improve regulatory compliance.
He described the collaboration as productive and essential to ensuring transparency, market stability and public confidence in Nigeria’s evolving downstream petroleum sector.
