FG Reaffirms Commitment To End Sharp Practices Im Filling Stations

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines Friday, June 12th, 2015

By Eric Ojo, Abuja – The Federal Government has promised to fully enforce legal metrology law in filling stations and prosecute those involved in the sharp practice of under dispensing petroleum products to customers in the country.

The government also reiterated its committed to enforce legal metrology laws relating to all sectors of the economy, adding that it would not tolerate anybody to cheat customers because they are desperate to get fuel.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Abdulkadir Musa who gave the assurance when he led an inspection team of Weights and Measures department to some filling stations in Abuja, lamented that the problem permeates other sectors of the Nigerian economy.

According to him, “It is not only in the oil sector that Nigerians will feel the impact of the department but also in the operation of the Automated Payment Machine (ATM) in the banking sector and telecommunication as well as correct measurement in the market”

Abdulkadir however reassured that the government was poised to address the problem. “I assure you that what happened in the past will no longer be because now, Nigerians know what we can do. We had synergize with the oil major and stakeholders in the sector and they are well informed of our statutory responsibilities of ensuring that trade is fair, correct and transparent”.

Continuing he said: “Whatever we are doing now is to send messages to those defaulters that we are now standing on our feet and we are now going to be effective in regulating weights and measurements act in the oil and gas sector.

“As a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, I do not belief in sitting down behind the board to read report written by my staff, I wanted to see my men in action to ensure compliance with weights and measurements act and I really commend them for their dedication and effort in view of limited funds and staff”.

During the inspection at the Mobil filling station, Lugbe, Airport Road, it was discovered that the dispensing pumps at the station short-changed customers form their two operational dispensing pumps by 2 litres 69 mls. for every 20 litres of PMS (17.31 as 20 litres) while other dispensing pump dispensed 18.66 litres for every 20 litres.

Other filing stations inspected by the team were NNPC Sabon Lugbe, NNPC, Durumi, Area 1, Total Filing station, Herbert Macaulay way, Forte Oil Olusegun Obasanjo Way, and Total filing station, Wuse zone 6. NNPC filing station Sabon Lugbe one pump was sealed for re-caliberation and others were within tolerance level stipulated by law.

While addressing journalists, Director Weights and Measures, Engr. Adeyinka Sikuade said that it was extremely disappointing that motorist were being short change in the filing stations and that the department will continue to embark on such exercise throughout the federation in order to established that marketers conform with fairness and standards.

Sikuade noted that maximum permissible error allow at dispensing pumps is 60 mls, adding that the departments in collaboration with stakeholders are working on the portion of the act on penalty that will deter erring stations from cheating.

“On penalty for defaulters now, we still have stronger area that prevents such erring stations from operating by sealing them or removing their nozzles and ensuring that they cannot conduct any business from such pumps until it is corrected”, he further stated.