Adjusted fuel pumps still existin Anambra

OFTEN time, both federal and state government do  set a  task force, to checkmate pump prices of fuel, kerosene, diesel, trying as much as possible to avoid mixing one petroleum product and other, and to protect the masses to avoid buying from adjusted pumps.

  In  Anambra state, though the state government had tried hard, and succeeded in some aspects, such as forcing  the private fuel station owners to sell at affordable prices, not mixing each petroleum product with another, for example mixing gas and kerosene, or mixing kerosene with fuel, the government is yet to succeed  in checkmating those fuel stations that adjusted or tampered with their fuel pumps, nozzles, so that when customers pay for 10 litres, what enters their car tanks or containers will not be half of what was paid for.

  After the private owners of fuel stations  had adjusted their pumps, then sales boys and girls also come up with their own style of stealing from the masses by adjusting the nozzles of pumps  so that it will become faulty. Then each time fuel station sales boy or girls serve their customers, fuel will be dropping into buckets in little quantity.

  At the end of the day, whatever is collected will be sold at reduced prices to motor cycle operators.

  As the government of the state gives directives to individual fuel station’s owners to stop all vices and sell their  products  at affordable prices, government should  equally look into the challenges of individual marketers which include problems they encounter at depots where they make unnecessary expenses, extortion of money on Nigerian roads by security operatives, troubles from tanker drivers, amongst others. 

  After all expenses by private oil marketers and government comes up with stipulated prices which private marketers  are expected to adhere to, these marketers would oblige but find solace in adjusting their fuel pumps, and other vices to maximize profits.

  At the end of everything, the masses still suffer as commercial drivers will hike transport fare which must force the cost of living to be on the high side.

  National Light had interactions with some drivers both private and commercial vehicles opened up and condemned means of how people are extorted in some  private fuel stations.

  Proprietress of  Amazing Shepherd Academy Fegge, Onitsha, Margret Chukwu, frowned at the practice whereby fuel station owners adjust their pumps so that half a litre will  be sold in place of one litre. She narrated her experience at a particular filling station where  she went to buy fuel, that faithful day, she did not go in her car, rather she wanted to buy a little quantity of fuel,  Chukwu said, she was surprised when she was given half a litre as one litre.

  Chukwu said,”I asked the sales girl why she should sell half a litre as one, replied and said”, I don't  know, that is how we sell here”.

  Chukwu said, she started monitoring commercial drivers, as they troop into certain fuel stations and avoiding others.

  According to Chukwu, any fuel station people patronize the more she goes to buy her product there too to avoid being cheated.

  In the same vein, a police officer,  Udo Nwokolo said the  situation is so bad, somebody can be stranded along the road. Continuing, Mr Nwokolo said, “If you buy 10 litres and decided to embark on a journey that will require 10 litres of fuel, you will find out that you will be stranded” .

  Another commercial bus driver Mr Innocent Nwite who plies government house route said  because there are so many fuel stations in the state that their pumps are adjusted, we avoid them and patronize a fuel station at Aroma junction Awka, and  the fuel station very close to the government House.