The Federal Government directs the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to ensure petroleum marketers do not exploit consumers through excessive pump prices in Nigeria’s deregulated downstream petroleum market. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, gives the instruction in Abuja on Monday during engagements with the NMDPRA General Counsel and Legal Advisers Forum. Lokpobiri says marketers are expected to reduce the pump prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and other petroleum products in line with a recent fall in global oil prices, which he links to easing tensions between Iran and the United States. He expresses concern that the reduction has not yet been reflected at filling stations and warns that deregulation must not be used to justify profiteering. The minister also stresses that regulators should ensure compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and protect consumers from unfair pricing and inaccurate measurement. He underscores that consumers should receive the quantity of fuel paid for, and not less. The government’s position is framed alongside efforts to expand domestic refining capacity and improve transparency and regulatory oversight.