By Miriam Humbe
The weight and Measures Department of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, (FMITI) on Thursday, went round some shopping Malls and petrol stations within the Abuja metropolis to verify pricing and measurements.
The surveillance was led by the Acting Permanent Secretary, Mohammed Nasiru Abbas, Director of Measures and Weights, Olajide Bamidele, other deputy directors and staff of the Ministry and accompanied by journalists.
Humsimedia Online gathered that the surveillance is an annual exercise by the Ministry, aimed at protecting the consumer from unwholesome practices in the business environment.
The team’s first port of call was the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) which was selling PMS at N895 per litre.
The Director, Reforms Coordination and SERVICOM, Mohammed Nasiru Abbas who represented the Permanent Secretary gave the NNPCL station a pass mark for compliance.
Director of Weights and Measures in the Ministry, Olajide Bamidele also expressed satisfaction with the pump of the NNPC, saying that no infractions were noticed.
Bamidele said that in the event where there are infractions, whoever is at fault is brought to book by way of being made to pay a fine to the government coffers.
AA Rano at the Airport Road, situated opposite the Eid Praying Ground Abuja was met selling PMS at the pump price of N940 per litre.
AA Rano’s LPG Gas section was also inspected.
ShopRite along the Airport Road in Lugbe, Abuja and Sahad Stores located in the Central Business District of the city were also inspected.
Director, Measures and Wedges, Olajide Bamidele gave an overall assessment of the surveillance.
Bamidele said: “Honestly speaking, it seems as if we’re really coming up in Nigeria.
“All the places we visited today, we have been able to recall that they are about 95 percent compliant, except for the one we saw at ShopRite along Lugbe road.
“One of the scales was not good and we decided to seal the place. So when the machine has been calibrated or when its ready for calibration, we’ll go back and unseal the equipment.
“So for now, there is 95percent compliance. This is Sahad Stores and we actually checked the stuff they have here. The products like the 50kg rice, the 10kg, 5kg and others.
“In fact, they are all good. Some of them are actually more than 2kg above.
“I want to advise business people to emulate this kind of character. They should try as much as possible to make sure that the customer gets value for the money they pay.
“When they are selling a particular item for N20, and then its supposed to be 1kg, it should be 1kg, so that all of us will be happy, nobody will be shortchanged.
“We’re in all the 36 States of the Federation and all our officers are on ground.
“By God’s grace, as from next week, we will move to the States, we will carry out this type of surveillance that we have done today”.
As for disciplinary actions against infractions, Mr Bamidele said: “You saw what happened at ShopRite, for every other business people that are not doing what they are supposed to do, there is a fine they will pay to government. We will sanction them.”
