The Federal Government of Nigeria recently shut down two filling stations located in the Federal Capital Territory, after they were allegedly found guilty of overbilling their customers.
About three dispensing pumps at two Forte Oil filling stations in Maitama, Abuja, were sealed off by the Weight and Measures department of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment. The operation was carried out as part of the Ministry’s function of ensuring that all commercial transactions involving the use of weights and measures are accurate, fair and legal.
Commenting on the situation, the Acting Director of the Department, Engineer Mohammed Sada Sidi, said the Department discovered that many filling stations are cheating their customers. At Forte Oil filling stations for, customers are reportedly overbilled for every 40 litres of fuel they bought.
Engineer Sidi went on to say that the Department confirmed that this under-dispensing results in customers being cheated to the tune of N194, 000 for every 33,000 truck of fuel sold.
The same discovery was also made by the Department when it checked on Dan Oil, which is located at the Airport road in Abuja.
It was discovered that for every 20 litres that customers buy at the filling station, they are cheated by over half a litre.
These discoveries have, therefore, led to the immediate revocation of the Weight and Measures licenses issued to both Forte Oil and Dan Oil, until they are able to meet up with the standards set by the enforcement team.
According to Engineer Sidi who issued the revocation, the measure was necessary in order to ensure that customers are not overcharged for less quantity of goods and sellers are not underpaid for more quantity of goods.
