As part of efforts to promote consumer protection and strengthen regulatory compliance in trade practices, the federal government has ramped up its national surveillance activities to ensure accuracy in measurements across fuel dispensing stations, food markets, and industrial operations.
The initiative, coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, is designed to guarantee that Nigerians receive fair value for goods and services, in line with approved national standards. The permanent secretary of the ministry, Ambassador Nura Rimi, disclosed this during an oversight visit to key facilities in Abuja on Wednesday. He was represented by Mr. Dafang Sule, Director of the Federal Produce Inspectorate Service.
According to Rimi, the inspection, led by the Ministry’s Weights and Measures Department, forms part of the government’s broader mandate under the Renewed Hope Agenda to uphold consumer rights while bolstering non-oil revenue through enforcement of trade regulations.
“Consumers deserve to receive the precise quantity they pay for, whether it is in litres of fuel or kilograms of food commodities,” Rimi said. “Beyond fairness, measurement regulation has direct implications for national revenue generation, as the service itself forms a critical part of commercial accountability.”
The director of the Weights and Measures Department, Mr. Bamidele Olajide, explained that the inspection is part of the department’s annual compliance audit across the federation. The focus, he noted, is to identify and rectify irregularities in measurement systems used in trade and industrial operations.
“Our objective is to ensure that, whether it’s a fuel pump, a weighing bridge, or a supermarket scale, consumers are not shortchanged. When a buyer pays for 20 litres of fuel, that is exactly what they should get,” Olajide said.
Facilities inspected during the Abuja tour included major retail fuel stations such as NNPC Mega Station, Conoil along Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Grand Square Supermarket, and Arab Contractors’ construction site in Wuye. Most facilities were found to be substantially compliant with regulatory standards.
Olajide further revealed that the ministry is working with the National Assembly and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to expand the regulatory reach of the Weights and Measures Department under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). The goal is to ensure that product volumes lifted in the oil and gas sector are accurately declared and measured at every stage.
The ministry also highlighted efforts to create an open and accessible complaints system. Mr. Muktar Salim, Deputy Director of Surveillance, urged consumers to report any suspected discrepancies in product measurement through the department’s website or local offices.
“Whether it’s 50 litres or 50 tonnes, the weight or volume paid for must be the exact amount delivered. We rely on public engagement to help drive accountability in trade,” Salim said.
At the Arab Contractors site, officials verified the accuracy of the facility’s weighbridge, though a renewal of certification for its operator was recommended. At Grand Square Supermarket, weighing procedures at the butchery and grain sections were also reviewed and found to be compliant.
The ministry pledged to continue capacity-building initiatives for operators of weighing and dispensing equipment nationwide, while also applying sanctions on facilities found to violate the standards.
