Title: Motorists Raise Alarm Over Suspected Poor-Quality Petrol in Abuja Date Published: 11 March 2026 Description: Motorists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have raised concerns over the quality of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, currently being sold at some filling stations.The motorists, who spoke with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, alleged that the fuel burns unusually fast and sometimes affects vehicle engine performance.Mr. Simon Uzor said he had noticed that petrol now finishes faster than before, despite buying the same quantity.“For instance, I live in Kubwa. Before the recent increase in petrol price, if I bought N10,000 fuel in my car, it would comfortably take me to and from the city centre. Now it doesn’t last as expected,” he said.He urged relevant authorities to intensify monitoring of petroleum products to ensure that only quality fuel is sold to consumers.Another motorist, Mr. Ojo Ibrahim, a commercial driver operating along the Wuse–Area 1 route, said he had experienced unusual engine performance after buying 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 inspections of filling stations to ensure motorists get value for their money.Similarly, a commercial driver, Abdullatif Isa, said many drivers had observed that petrol now burns faster than usual.“Because of the nature of my job, I buy petrol regularly and I know how long it should last.“Many vehicles belonging to my colleagues have developed faults due to bad petrol. Some drivers have even stopped working, and they still have families to care for,” he said.Mrs. Joy Obinna, a private car owner in Garki, said she had also noticed increased fuel consumption 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 marketers found selling adulterated fuel, noting that poor-quality petrol could damage vehicle engines.A civil servant, Mrs. Lydia Emerson, said motorists previously enjoyed better value for their money before the removal of fuel subsidy.“Before now, the fuel we bought was of better quality and did not damage car engines. Now we buy petrol at higher prices but get little value.“Many civil servants hardly use their vehicles anymore because of the problems associated with fuel quality and the rising cost of transportation,” she said.Responding to the concerns, officials of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) assured Nigerians that mechanisms were in place to safeguard the quality of petroleum products distributed nationwide.An official of the agency said it regularly conducts quality checks on petroleum products at depots and retail outlets to ensure compliance with national standards.“We carry out routine monitoring and laboratory tests to ensure that petrol sold to consumers meets the required specifications.“Any filling station found selling substandard or adulterated fuel will face regulatory sanctions,” the official said.Also reacting, an official of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) said the company remained committed to maintaining strict quality control across its supply chain.According to the official, established procedures are followed during product handling and distribution to prevent contamination.Energy analyst, Mrs. Uloma Amadi, emphasised that maintaining fuel quality is crucial to protecting vehicle engines and sustaining consumer confidence in the downstream petroleum sector.She advised motorists to purchase fuel from reputable filling stations and promptly report suspected cases of adulteration to regulatory authorities. Attached Images: 82853a3c7deb9ee124aeb4929df084fc38c12509043610494a91315df54e3bf4.jpg Attached Video: None