The Department of Weights and Measures of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has sealed no fewer than four petrol stations in Ibadan for under-dispensing fuel per litre to consumers.

Speaking during surveillance on Tuesday, Ibrahim Isah, deputy director of legal metrology in the agency, said most filling stations visited are short-changing consumers.

Mr Isah noted that visiting outlets of independent and major marketers in Ibadan, he was surprised that almost all, apart from Bovas, are under dispensing.

“Most of them are under dispensing by one litre. It means if you buy 20 litres, they are giving you 19 litres, and they will indicate that they are selling N250 per litre, which is not so. Some are even selling at N280 per litre,” he said.

He stated that the offenders had been told to pay the shortfall into the government remittal, which is N5,000 per nozzle.

”Most of them have refused to pay, claiming our officials do not have the jurisdiction to check their pumps because they are dubious marketers.

“We now sealed most stations, and it will continue up to Friday. These stations are sealed, and the errors in their pumps in litres: NIPCO Poly Road, 21.26; NIPCO Akobo, 21.57; Oduwoye, 21.57; and LEKLAW, 20.83, 20.74,” Mr Isah said.

He said that in the ideal situation, the offenders are taken to the Federal High Court in Ibadan, where the offence happened for the law to take effect.

Mr Isah said a meeting would be set up to properly educate the stakeholders concerned and resolve some issues concerning the agency’s jurisdiction.

“The present administration wants justices and frowns at cheating Nigerians of their hard-earned money,” he said.

(NAN)