22 January 2013, Swetcrude, Abuja – The Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment has sealed up three filling stations including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mega station at Gwarinpa in Abuja for short-changing motorists.
The other stations are AYM Shafa in Gundu district and M. Major Oil and Gas at Mborra District.
A statement issued, Monday, by Bolaji Kazeem, the ministry’s Public Relations Officer, said the Weights and Measures Department Director, Alhaji Bashir Zoro, sealed up the station during an inspection.
The statement stated that AYM Shafa Filling Station short-changed customers by 0.8 litres on every 20 litres of PMS ( giving 19.2 as 20 litres)
It added that customers were cheated by the attendants at the same station reducing 0.95 litres on every 20 litres (giving 19.05 as 20 litres) of diesel.
The statement explained that M. Major Oil and Gas was sealed because it short-changed customers by 1.6 litres on every 20 litres (18.4 as 20 litres).
According to the statement, the NNPC mega station in Gwarinpa was sealed up because the sales attendants deserted the place on sighting the inspecting team.
It stated that the official of the filing station also refused to switch on their dispensing pumps for inspection, feigning power failure and after shutting down their generator.
Zoro said that it was extremely disappointing that motorists were being short-changed at the filing station.
“It is extremely disappointing that motorist are being short changed, we will not relent in our official duty to ensure that that marketers exhibit integrity, fairness and accuracy while dispensing PMS to customers.
“We shall continue to use media to educate marketers and the public so that they will be alive to the need for measurement and standards as prescribed by law,” he added.
