OGUN – The Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority(NMDPRA), Abeokuta Field Office, on Monday sealed two filling stations in Ogun over alleged regulatory violations.
NMDPRA said the sealing was part of efforts to enforce compliance, protect consumers from sharp practices and ensure that petroleum marketers dispense the correct quantity of products across the state.
The surveillance team, led by Mr Olufemi Adebowale, Head of Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure (DSSRI), sealed Mangerborn Energy and Mobil filling stations located on Akute/Ajuwon axis in Ifo Local Government Area.
Speaking during the exercise, Adebowale stated that the action became necessary due to repeated breaches of regulatory requirements by the affected filling stations.
According to him, records available to the authority show that Mangerborn Energy, has consistently violating regulatory compliance by under-dispensing petroleum products, illegally breaking official seals placed on the facility and resuming operations without authorisation.
He explained that such actions were in violation of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and undermine efforts to protect consumers from exploitation.
“The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority is carrying out a lawful enforcement on this facility. Our records have consistently shown that this company has been violating regulatory compliance.
“It is high time we make it clear that they cannot continue to under-dispense products, deliberately remove our seals and believe that nothing will happen.
“That is why we are here to enforce the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.
“When it comes to under-dispensing, they are cheating members of the public by not selling the correct quantity of fuel.
“Also, once a station is sealed, it has no authorisation to operate, but this station deliberately removed our seal and continued operations, which is against the law,” he said.
Adebowale disclosed that the authority had been monitoring the station’s activities since 2025, describing the violations as persistent, despite several enforcement actions.
He revealed that the affected station had been sealed no fewer than six times within the period but continued to remove the authority’s seals and ignore invitations extended by the regulator.
“From our records, this has been happening since last year. The station has also refused to honour our invitations. It has been sealed not less than six times, yet they keep removing our seals and resuming operations,” he said.
On the sanctions awaiting the operators, Adebowale said the authority had served the stations with enforcement notices, while the facilities would remain shut until all stipulated conditions were met.
He added that the NMDPRA management would also consider suspending the operating licence of the affected stations, while also sending a strong warning to any filling station intending to go against the rules of PIA.
“Beyond this exercise, we are also using this opportunity to address the public through the media. As long as operators are doing the right thing, they have nothing to fear.
“However, for those going against compliance levels, whether through under-dispensing or direct violation of our seal, all necessary enforcement, penalties and sanctions will be strictly applied to such offenders.
“We are also looking at suspending the operating licence, subject to management’s approval,” he said.
Adebowale said the affected stations had been served letters and shut down until they meet necessary conditions, including payment of applicable penalties.
He warned that any further attempt to tamper with the seals or resume operations illegally would attract prosecution. (NAN)
