NMDPRA Opens Channels To Report Exploitative Fuel Pricing, Under-dispensing

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has said it does not fix petrol pump prices under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

The statement comes days after organised labour raised the alarm over the latest surge in pump prices.

Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), president, Joe Ajaero, had said petrol was selling for about N1,430 per litre in major cities, with higher prices in less accessible areas. The congress asked the federal government to urgently introduce measures to cushion the effect, including wage awards, naira-priced crude for local refineries and expanded national fuel storage capacity.

The management of NMDPRA, while acknowledging the financial strain on households, transport workers and businesses, said it shared the commitment to seeing relief take root as market conditions stabilise.

The authority said Section 205(1) of the PIA requires wholesale and retail prices of petroleum products to be based on unrestricted free market conditions. It said it neither fixes pump prices nor issues administrative price templates.

It added that Section 205(2)–(4) limits government intervention to exceptional cases backed by formal evidence of declared market failure adding that “No such market failure has been declared,” it said.

Section 216, it noted, empowers it to prevent anti-competitive practices, price-fixing and abuse of market dominance.

Ajaero had warned that higher transport costs would push up the prices of food, school fees, rents and tariffs.

He’d also said the surge came just as government pressure on marketers to lower prices in line with crude prices was starting to yield results. The NLC questioned why marketers were being allowed to keep prices high under the guise of deregulation as another election cycle approaches. It said organised labour would speak out or act if the situation continued to undermine workers’ welfare.

The NMDPRA said deregulation does not exempt operators from regulatory compliance or fair trade standards, and announced steps to protect consumers.

To ensure supply stability and curb illegal cross-border diversion, it said it is conducting a joint security effort with the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies to step up surveillance along border corridors.

Under its Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), it said both agencies maintain joint surveillance against price-gouging, collusion, under-dispensing and compromised product quality.

It also said it is opening dedicated channels for the public and industry stakeholders to report irregular pricing or exploitative trade practices for immediate investigation and enforcement. It described itself as steadfast in fulfilling its mandate to ensure energy security, foster fair competition and protect consumers within the PIA’s legal framework.

Petrol prices have been under pressure from higher international crude prices. On September 3, Brent crude had risen to $96.98 per barrel as conflict in the Gulf intensified, and pump prices were above N1,310 per litre.

In July, marketers accused major importers of fixing imported petrol at about N1,350 per litre.

On August 6, the NMDPRA invited comments on draft regulations against price coordination and other anti-competitive practices, and scheduled a stakeholders’ forum at its Abuja headquarters for September 22, 2026.