FG Commences Meters Inspection in Fuel Stations to Enforce Metrology Law.

The Federal Government has commenced the inspection of meters and measuring weights in all economic sectors to enforce the metrology law and bring defaulters to book.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Tradeand Investment, Ambassador Abdulkadir Musa led an inspection team of Weights and Measures department to enforce legal metrology law in filling stations for under dispensing petrol to customers in Abuja.

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 two litres 69 mls for every 20 litres of PMS (17.31 as 20 litres), while other dispensing pumps dispensed 18.66 litres for every 20 litres.

Other filing stations inspected by the team were NNPC Sabon Lugbe, NNPC, Durumi, Area 1, TotalFiling station, Herbert Macaulay way, Forte Oil Olusegun Obasanjo Way, and Totalfiling 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.

Abdulkadir reiterated that government is committed to the enforcement of legal metrology laws in all sector of the economyadding that government would not tolerate anybody to cheat customers because they are desperate to get fuel.

He added that, it is not only in the oil sector that Nigerians we feel the impact of the department but also in the operation of the Automated Payment Machine (ATM) in the bankingsector and telecommunication as well as correct measurement in the market.

“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. 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 tradeis fair, correct and transparent”

“As a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, I do not belief in sitting down behind the board to read reports 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 fundsand staff.”

Director Weights and Measures, Engr. Adeyinka Sikuade while addressing journalists said that it was extremely disappointing that motorist were being short changed in the filling 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.

“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 businessfrom such pumps until it is corrected.” Sikuade stressed

Source: DailyTime