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By Amos Odeh, Yenagoa
The Weights and Measures department, federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has commenced inspection of filling stations in Bayelsa State.
The exercise, aimed at checking the exploitation of the public, is part of efforts to correct irregularities in quantity of products sold to customers.
The team of inspectors on surveillance activities inspected three filling stations, including Astom Control, Total and NNPC mega station in Yenagoa.
Mr Okechukwu Ejiofor, assistant director, Weights and Measures department in the ministry, said that the team inspected the weights and measures facility at the stations, which are the oil pumps.
Ejiofor also explained that the surveillance exercise, unlike that of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), which inspects for adulteration in the oil and gas sector, was to create awareness in Nigerians.
According to him, the weights and measures department has the mandate to look for accuracy in the quantity of products dispensed or sold to buyers.
“At Astom filling stations in Opolo, Isaac-Boro express-way, we sealed three pumps, while at Total filling stations along Palm express Road, two pumps were also sealed until they complied with the Weights and Measures act.
“One, they do not have certificate of verification; two, their meters are under dispensing. They do not meet the requirements and for that, the pumps are rejected until they comply.
“We have also inspected the NNPC mega station at Berger junction, the eight pumps at the station are dispensing accurately.
“The Weights and Measures is not all about oil and gas but as well as for non-oil and gas.
“We inspect rice, soft drinks, all Foods and Beverage sector as well as cement, to ensure that the quantity packaged does not short-change buyers or customers of these products,” he said.
Mr Uchendu Ukachi, supervisor at NNPC station commended the Federal Government on the move to ensure that customers get the correct quantity of products they are buying.
“I urge my colleague in the oil and gas business to desist from pump adjustment and support the efforts of Weights and Measures department,” Ukachi said.
