Enugu Warns Filling Stations Against Metre Manipulation

As the hike in the price of fuel continues to bite harder with no end in sight, the Enugu State Government has warned that filing stations found culpable of metre manipulation in any part of the State will be  severely sanctioned to serve as deterrent to others.
Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon. Emeka Ajogwu, gave the warning over the weekend when he paid unscheduled visits to some petrol filing stations in Enugu metropolis to ascertain the alleged metre manipulation by some filling station owners.
He expressed disappointment at the way some petroleum dealers in the State are exploiting consumers through deliberate manipulation of metres while dispensing fuel inaccurately.
Ajogwu regretted that from their findings none of the filling stations in the State had an accurate metering system, including the major distributing stations.
He, however, assured residents of government’s genuine concern to their plight, urging the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to ensure that filling stations comply with accurate metering system.
The enraged commissioner told newsmen that the State government had, over the past weeks, been inundated with complaints from residents and motorists operating in the State that they were being shortchanged by petrol filing stations in spite of high cost of the product.
Describing the sharp practice as unacceptable, Ajogwu said that the State government was committed to making life better for the people and would not fold its arms and watch its citizens strangulated without intervention.
According to him, “Over 20 filing stations visited adjusted their metres and sold between N600-N620 per litre, respectively. It was confirmed that for every 20 litres of petrol bought, consumers were shortchanged N768.60, N702, N682.00, N575 N441.60, N480, N256.2 respectively”.
The commissioner, who was accompanied by other government officials, cautioned the station managers and directed them to immediately re-adjust their metres to the accurate metering system.

By: Canice Amadi, Enugu