ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-Motorists in the Federal Capital Territory have expressed concern over the quality of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, currently being sold.
The motorists made their concerns known in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday.
Mr Simon Uzor alleged that the fuel burns faster than expected and does not last as long as it used to.
“For instance, I live at Kubwa, before the increase in the pump price of petrol, if I buy N10, 000 fuel in my car, it does not take me to and back from the city centre.
He urged relevant authorities to intensify monitoring of petroleum products to ensure that only quality fuel is sold to consumers.
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Mr Ojo Ibrahim, a commercial driver operating along the Wuse–Area 1 axis, said he had observed unusual engine behaviour after purchasing petrol from some filling stations.
“Sometimes when you buy fuel from certain stations, the car begins to behave differently, the engine may knock or the fuel finishes faster than expected,” he said.
Ibrahim called on regulators to carry out routine checks on filling stations to ensure motorists receive value for their money.
Another commercial driver, Abdullatif Isa, also said petrol currently available in the market appears to burn faster.
“Due to the nature of my job, I always buy petrol and I know how it use to last or the effect.
“Most of my fellow drivers’ vehicles have broken down due to bad petrol and this have made life more difficult than it is already.
“Some of them no longer operate, and they have family,” he said.
Mrs Joy Obinna, a private car owner in Garki, said she had experienced situations where her vehicle consumed more fuel shortly after refuelling.
“You may buy petrol thinking it will last for a few days, but it finishes faster than usual, it makes motorists worry about the quality,” she said.
Another motorist, Mr Ezekiel Offor, urged authorities to sanction any marketer found selling adulterated fuel, warning that poor-quality petrol could damage vehicle engines.
A civil servant, Mrs Lydia Emerson, said that before the removal of fuel subsidy, petrol sold was of better quality and did not damage vehicle engines.
“I can remember before now, we get value for our money, but now the situation is different.
“We now buy fuel at expensive costs and at zero value, most of us civil servants no longer use our vehicles because of the plenty problems attached to it.
“I urge the government to look into this matter critically, we are suffering in silence, we cannot feel well anymore, transportation on the high side, among others,” she said.
Regulatory authorities, however, have assured Nigerians that mechanisms are in place to safeguard the quality of petroleum products supplied across the country.
An official of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority said the agency routinely conducts quality checks on petroleum products at depots and retail outlets to ensure compliance with national standards.
According to the official, fuel quality is tested at different stages of distribution before reaching consumers.
“We conduct regular monitoring and laboratory tests to ensure that the petrol being sold meets the required specifications.
“Any station found selling substandard or adulterated fuel faces regulatory sanctions,” the official said.
Also speaking, an official of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited said the company remains committed to maintaining quality control across its supply chain.
According to the official, strict procedures are followed in product handling and distribution to prevent contamination.
Energy analyst Mrs Uloma Amadi said maintaining fuel quality is essential to protecting vehicle engines and sustaining consumer confidence in the downstream petroleum sector.
She advised motorists to purchase fuel from reputable filling stations and report suspected cases of adulteration to regulatory authorities.
(NAN)