By Ushang Ewa
The federal ministry of industry, trade and investment has sealed no fewer than four fuelling stations In Calabar, the Cross River State capital over sharp practices including the adjustment of pump meters.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) mega station in Calabar is among those selling adjusted litres of fuel below the regulated measurement to members of the public said head of weights and measures in the ministry, Engineer Ibrahim Isa who carried out an inspection tour across fueling stations in the city.
He expressed shock over the nefarious activities of some oil marketers in the state and wondered why the NNPC which was supposed to be taking the lead had only one out of 20 pumps operating at the right scale.
“My surprise is at the NNPC mega station, we found out that at each pump of 20 litres delivery, they are shortchanging customers at minus 1.1 and 1.3 litres.
“That shows that if you buy 20 litres from the mega station, they are only giving you 18.9 and some are giving you 18.6 litres. For this to be coming out from a big station like NNPC is condemnable.
“Other filling stations are also involved in the bad act, but the one of NNPC is the worst.
“Some customers may be deceived that NNPC is dispensing accurate litres, but the reverse is the case because all their 20 pumps are not accurate except one,” Mr. Isa said.
Also shut down were Basumouh, Darrel-B and Hyde fueling stations.
And Mr. Isa told journalists that some fueling stations found wanting were issued warning letters and and directed to write an undertaking for the accurate readjustment of their meters.
Among these group was Tonimas petroleum limited.
Mr. Isa who said the current administration was serious about revenue generation urged the marketers to pay their verification and statutory fees or risk attracting necessary sanctions.