News Agency of Nigeria
FG intensifies surveillance to ensure accuracy in fuel, food measurements

FG intensifies surveillance to ensure accuracy in fuel, food measurements

By Lucy Ogalue

The Federal Government is intensifying efforts to ensure Nigerians get fair value for their money through accurate quantity measurements in goods and services.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Nura Rimi, said this on Wednesday in Abuja.

Rimi, represented by Mr Dafang Sule, the Director of Federal Produce Inspectorate Service, said this when he led officials from the Weights and Measures Department of the Ministry on an inspection tour of some facilities within the city center.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the facilities visited are the NNPC mega station and NNPC by Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Zone 1, Conoil, Gransquare, and the Arab Contractors site in Abuja.

Rimi said the essence of the visit was to ensure the facilities maintained strict compliance with approved standards of measurement, for consumer protection and revenue generation for the government.

He expressed the commitment of the present administration through its Renewed Hope Agenda, to protect the interest of consumers and the general public.

“With all of these activities, the consumer has the right to receive what he pays for.

”At the same time, it is a strong base for revenue generation because the service is paid for, and the government derives enormous returns from it,” he said.

Also speaking, the Director of Weights and Measures, Mr Bamidele Olajide, said the surveillance was part of the department’s annual nationwide compliance exercise.

”This is our annual surveillance. We do it once a year. And what we do specifically is to ensure that we do our function, we carry out our responsibility.

“Our aim is to protect consumers from being shortchanged. If a buyer pays for 20 litres of fuel, they must get exactly 20 litres. The same applies to food and industrial commodities.

”We also enforce compliance of the entities with government regulation such that the quantity of what you are giving to the public is accurate and specific,” Olajide said.

According to him, most of the premises visited so far have shown substantial compliance to the required standards .

On the issue of standards in the oil and gas sector, Olajide confirmed that efforts were ongoing to strengthen the department’s role under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

He said this was being done with the support of the National Assembly and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

“The Secretary to the Government of the Federation has directed that Weights and Measures return to the oil and gas sector to ensure that what is lifted corresponds to what is declared at the ministry,” he said.

Similarly, Mr Muktar Salim, Deputy Director, Surveillance, said that the department operated an open complaint system through its website and call centres.

Salim encouraged consumers to report suspected cheating or inaccuracy in weighing or dispensing to the department’s closest office for necessary actions.

“We want to ensure that a person paying for 50 tonnes gets exactly 50 tonnes. That is the core of consumer protection,” Salim said.

At the Arab Contractors site in Wuye, the project manager, Mr Gamal Abdelrahman, commended the surveillance team for their professionalism.

Abdelrahman confirmed that their weighing bridge had passed the test, though the operator’s certificate was due for renewal.

Similarly, the Manager of the NNPC Filling Station along Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Zone 1, Mr Isah Iyaji, also applauded the initiative and offered technical advice to CNG vehicle users.

He advised motorists using CNG converted vehicles to ensure not to kick their vehicles with CNG except after driving for about 20 to 30 minutes.

”If you use petrol for like 20 to 30 minutes, then you go back to CNG. That is the only time you can get the compress, the required pressure for it to drive, for your car not to be affected,” he said.

Officials also visited the butchery section and rice stalls at Grand Square Supermarket and Stores located in the Central Business District in Abuja, where items were weighed to ensure compliance with standard measures.

The ministry promised to continue to train operators of weighing equipment and enforce sanctions on defaulters as part of ongoing efforts to protect consumers and uphold trade standards across Nigeria.(NAN)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Aviation: NCAA urges journalists to prioritise accurate reporting

Aviation: NCAA urges journalists to prioritise accurate reporting

By Gabriel Agbeja

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Wednesday in Abuja urged Nigerian journalists to intensify efforts toward accurate reportage of any developments in the aviation industry.

Mrs Uju Mbamadu, NCAA Assistant General Manager of the Public Relations Department, gave the advice during her remarks at a workshop titled “The Role of Media on Initiatives and Innovation to Improve Aviation Safety and Regulation.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was the second edition organised by the NCAA for the Abuja Transport and Aviation Correspondents’ Association (ATACA).

According to Mbamadu, accurate reporting is essential for maintaining the highest levels of safety, efficiency, and compliance in aviation.

“As media professionals, your ability to accurately report on aviation matters begins with a solid grasp of the NCAA’s mandate.

“From the first edition, we have observed positive changes in news reporting from the aviation sector. Yes, we have.

“That’s why we are motivated to continue this advocacy for accuracy in news writing this year. We commend your relationship with us,” she said.

Ms. Chioma Ubibi, the workshop facilitator, explained that NCAA operated through several directorates, each playing a unique and critical role in aviation regulation.

She listed NCAA’s core responsibilities to include safety oversight, economic regulation, consumer protection, and security collaboration.

Ubibi said the NCAA organisational structure comprised all the directorates known as the internal structure.

“The NCAA is empowered by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Act, 2022, and operates in line with the Chicago Convention of 1944 and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).

“The NCAA is a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Aviation but maintains functional and administrative autonomy in carrying out its regulatory responsibilities.

“Its directorates include Airworthiness Standards; Operations, Licensing and Training; Aerodrome and Airspace Standards; Air Transport Regulation; and Aviation Security.

“Other directorates are Public Affairs and Consumer Protection; Finance and Accounts; Human Resources and Administration; Corporate Services; Legal Services/Company Secretary; and Special Duties.”

She also urged journalists to be careful in their choice of headlines when writing any aviation story.

“This will help journalists avoid sensationalism and foster intelligent engagement with NCAA’s regulatory actions,” she added.

Speaking at the workshop, the NCAA Media Consultant, Mr Toni Ukachukwu, said the event was organised to boost journalists’ knowledge of aviation to improve reportage.

According to him, understanding the NCAA structure will help prevent misreporting or panic narratives.

He emphasised that understanding the structure would help prevent misreporting or panic narratives.

Ukachukwu encouraged participants to reflect on their role as partners in accurate public communication.

“I want to reiterate that the NCAA’s authority is multi-dimensional, safety, economic regulation, and consumer rights,” he said.(NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

X
Welcome to NAN
Need help? Choose an option below and let me be your assistant.
Email SubscriptionSite SearchSend Us Email