The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Department of Weights and Measures under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, has initiated a nationwide surveillance operation aimed at safeguarding consumers from products with misleading measurements.
The department was established to ensure that facilities measure and weigh products accurately, preventing Nigerians from being shortchanged in the weights and measurements they pay for.
On Wednesday, during a routine surveillance operation in Lagos State, the department visited the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited in Ijora and Olam Agri in Iganmu.
The inspection, led by the Department Director and Fellow of the Security Institute, Adesuyi Olajide, and the State Zonal Coordinator, Mrs. Cordelis Nwachukwu, resulted in commendations for both organizations’ compliance with regulatory standards.
Olajide stated that the operation, which began in Abuja, aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, aimed at protecting Nigerians from being exploited by sellers and manufacturers through inaccurate measurements.
He said, “The government wants to make sure that Nigerians get value for their money, especially during this escalating price of materials. If you’re buying 10 liters, the government wants to ensure you get exactly 10 liters.
“The government is concerned about the protection of consumers so that nobody can shortchange them. The government does not want any sector of the economy to shortchange consumers. This is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
“Another reason for this surveillance is regulatory compliance. We inspect unannounced to check what they are doing and ensure they comply with the regulations in place. This surveillance covers all states of the federation. We started in Abuja last week. This week we are in Lagos, and after this, we will visit Ogun State.”
Echoing the director’s remarks, Mrs. Nwachukwu emphasized that the department will continue to intensify its efforts to ensure consumers are not cheated or shortchanged through unfair and inaccurate measurements.
“Anywhere you see weights, instruments, or equipment for measuring transactions, we are there. The Abuja office visits us for inspection to ensure that we do what we are meant to do and for checks and balances.
“We inspect hotels such as the Marriott Hotel in Ikeja. They purchase items from people, and their laundry services also use measurements. We checked the weight they used.
“We inspect fish markets and filling stations where products are sold by measurement. We ensure they are not using their scales and equipment to cheat Nigerians. We are ensuring fairness in trade,” she stated.
