Trade minister reiterates role of Weights and Measures Department in oil sector
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo on Monday in Abuja, reiterated the importance of the role of Weights and Measures Department in the oil and gas sector.
Adebayo said this at a meeting with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva.
The meeting was initiated by the FMITI to discuss pertinent issues regarding the application of legal metrology in the oil and gas sector, following the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
Represented by Dr Evelyn Ngige, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Adeniyi said that activities of the weights and measures department in the oil and gas sector should not be hampered.
According to him, some private bodies who are not conversant with the role of weights and measures department across the gamut of the Nigerian economy, has concluded that the department has no further role to play in the oil and gas sector.
“The section of the PIA on which these private bodies are relying has given only regulatory powers in the oil and gas sector to the Nigerian Mainstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
“But the powers to certify and verify the instruments used for dispensing petroleum products still remain sacrosanct within the purview of the department.
“That is why the weight and measures Act has not been repealed,’’ Adebayo said.
The minister expressed worry that some petroleum retail outlets, supported by their associations issued threats to inspectors of the department.
He added that they also sought to bar officials from entering their premises to carry out their legitimate statutory function of verification of equipment.
“It is unheard of that for an association to issue threats to an agency or department of government that is empowered by law to carry out specific functions.
“If this is allowed to go unchecked, a time may come when other bodies or associations will challenge the legitimacy of government and its institutions.
“When the activities of weights and measures department are hindered, the government is losing revenue; when there is a gap, some people take advantage of that,’’ he said.
Responding, Sylva advised that a technical committee be constituted to interface with the PIA implementation group.
Represented by Dr Bello Gusau, Executive Secretary of Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Sylva said that it would enable a definite landing on where there are issues.
