NGO decries increase of manipulated dispensing meters in filling stations

A non-governmental Organisation, Cyber Protection Corps of Nigeria, has decried high rate of manipulated dispensing meters at various filling stations across the South-West.

Mr Olarenwaju Longe, Director of the corps in the South-West, said this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Akure.

Longe said that it was worrisome that most filling stations had doctored their meters to shortchange unsuspecting consumers in the zone.

He said that in every 20 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) bought, at least 1.8 litres were  shortchanged by fuel marketers through their dispensing meters.

According to him, no fewer than 50 filling stations were caught with the act of cheating consumers in Ondo State in recent time.

“Of recent, when we went round the state, we caught almost 58 filling stations that tampered with their meters which we reported to the  Commissioner of Police in the state.

“Initially, we asked them to revert the meters  Some complied and some refused. We later made some arrests because we collaborate with the Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC),” he said.

Longe said that people must have value for their money, hence there was urgent need to curb any act of cheating.

“Even, when you are selling at N180 or N200 per litre because you are saying it is caused by cost of loading at depots, let people or consumers have value for their money.

“If it is two or three litres, they are buying, let them have them accurately.

“There are enough problems Nigerians are facing already, do not complicate them,” he said.

Longe explained that the Cyber Corps, an organisation duly registered, was saddled with the  responsibilities of  sensitising, educating and intimating Nigerians on the need to be vigilant on how their rights as consumers are trampled upon or denied.

He added that the corps , foot soldiers of Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission( FCCPC), collaborates with relevant security  authorities with a view to investigating computer and internet frauds and reports same to appropriate authorities.

The director, therefore, asked complaints related to internet, ICT and digitals to be forwarded to the corps’ website address: www.cyberprotectioncorps.org, saying such complaints would be investigated and resolved free of charge. (NAN)