FG Department Commends Anambra Business Operators for Compliance to Regulations

By Mezie Chukwu

The Weight and Measures department of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has commended the level of compliance to regulatory standards by some businesses in Anambra.

Mr Okechukwu Ejiofor, Deputy Rector in charge of National Meteorology Infrastructure and Special Duties said this during the ongoing surveillance on businesses that involve weight and measures in the state in Awka on Tuesday.

The surveillance had so far covered Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, Nnobi and Anaocha.

Ejiofor said the objective of our surveillance activities in Anambra was to enlighten and sensitise businesses who use weighing and measuring instruments on their duties and responsibilities to government and the public.

He said in addition to enforcing the Weight and Measures Act, their mission was to ensure that all businesses concerned met administrative requirements including making statutory payments and possessing valid verification certificates.

According to him, we are here to enforce the Weights and Measures Act Cap W3, LFN 2004 which is to ensure that weighing and measuring instruments used in trade transactions are accurate

“We visited business premises in different sectors of the economy including oil and gas, confectioneries, manufacturing and construction in different locations of the state

“I must say we are impressed with the level of compliance by the majority of the firms we visited in terms of payment of statutory fee and to obtain their verification certificate.

“This annual surveillance exercise, the government wants to make sure that the public is not shortchanged, those that did not comply were given time to do so,” he said.

Ejiofor said Weight and Measures had offices in all the states of the federations and urged customers who noticed infractions to report the suspects at their office for necessary action,” he said.

Chief John Ezeokafor, Manager at Jezco service station, Agu-Awka said businesses had the responsibility of operating under the law of the country and sincerity to the public.

Ezeokafor said it was a policy of the company to ensure their metres were accurate and that it was not right to make customers suffer the jeopardy of high price and under dispensing.

“People are not very much interested in the price of products because they do not have control over that, rather they want to make sure that the quantity they want to buy is what they get from the filling station.

“Jezco has a name to protect, the company was built on integrity and we do not want to betray the public, I am happy we have been proven right and I encourage others to regularise their operations,” he said.

On her part, Mrs Alice Ogbobe, the Coordinator of Weight and Measures Office in Anambra called on businesses under its regulatory span of control to endeavour to adopt best practices and avoid breaching the law.

Ogbobe said the surveillance was a regular one adding that those who needed clarification or assistance to visit their offices in Awka for necessary guidance.