Nigerians have called on the Federal Government to conduct fresh tests to verify the quality of petrol sold in filling stations across the country. The demand follows a viral video alleging that petrol from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) burns faster than that of Dangote Refinery.
In response, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) defended NNPC, insisting that its fuel meets quality standards.
On Saturday, the NNPC denied the allegations, stating that the video was misleading and based on unverified research. According to a statement by NNPC’s spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, the petrol sold at its Ojodu Berger station—where the viral experiment was conducted—was sourced from the Dangote Refinery. However, some officials at the refinery refuted this claim, questioning why NNPC involved Dangote in the controversy.
The viral video, created by a content creator, showed him purchasing a litre of petrol from MRS filling station in Alapere, Lagos, at ₦925 and another litre from NNPC in Ojodu Berger at ₦945. He then tested both fuels in separate power generators. The generator running on NNPC petrol stopped after 17 minutes, while the one using Dangote petrol lasted 30 minutes.
Reacting on social media, Nigerians demanded an independent test by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council (FCCPC) and the NNPC to verify the claims. Some users supported the video’s findings, while others questioned the accuracy of the test, citing potential variations in generator conditions.
“NNPC should simply replicate the experiment and stop threatening their consumers,” one user wrote, while another added, “All that needs to be done is to switch the fuel between the two generators for a more objective assessment.”
Meanwhile, PETROAN reaffirmed the quality of NNPC fuel, stating that independent laboratory tests confirm its compliance with industry standards. In a statement by its spokesman, Joseph Obele, PETROAN detailed the rigorous quality checks conducted on NNPC products, including flash point, density, viscosity, and sulfur content tests.
The association’s president, Billy Gillis-Harry, urged content creators to exercise caution when making claims about sensitive issues, emphasizing the need for factual reporting.
As the debate continues, Nigerians await further clarification from regulatory bodies regarding the quality of petrol distributed by NNPC.
