Analysis
THE GREAT RIP OFF: HOW FUEL ATTENDANTS MANIPULATE METER READINGS AT FILLING STATIONS TO CHEAT UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMERS
Friday Lines (105) With;
Engineer Abubakar Alkali (PhD)
20/1/26
The practice of ‘cheating through meter manipulation’ at filling stations has been ongoing since records began. However, the issue becomes more critical when juxtaposed with the very huge spike in the ex-pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS) a.k.a petrol from N200 per litre pre-Tinubu’s Presidency to an average of N1,000 or more today depending on the location.
The over 800% jerk up in the price of petrol and other petroleum products was as a result of the presumed and theoretical removal of fuel subsidy by President Tinubu in 2023 which sent prices of goods and services into the skies and mostly beyond the reach of the average Nigerian.
The sharp practice in petrol meter wheeler-dealing involves the manipulation of the meter at the pump by the fuel attendants such that the reading seen on the pump’s display unit is higher than the exact fuel dispensed and paid for.
It works such that if you buy a N10,000 fuel, what actually goes into your tank is about N7,000 or N8,000 worth or even less as the case may be. Through this fraud, the volume of fuel you paid for is more than what goes into your tank. You drive out of the station with less fuel while the fuel attendant smiles home with his loot.
A few motorists and other consumers have done a field research through the use of kegs where they use a 10 litre keg to buy fuel at the station only to realise that the fuel mark stopped at around 8 litres. This means they have been shortchanged 2 litres. The situation is even more pathetic out-of-pump in remote areas where petrol sellers at the black market use conceptualized estimates to sell fuel.
The crux of this ‘fuel fraud’ is that you could buy petrol worth which normally takes you to Ikoyi Lagos from Ibadan but on getting to Ogere, your fuel gauge goes red and you still have about an hour’s drive to get to your destination depending on the normally chaotic Lagos traffic. At that point, you realise that the actual is actually different from the estimated. That the fuel in your tank is less than what you paid for.
Apart from manipulating the meter, the fuel attendants use other methods to perpetrate this fraud one of which is to ensure that the customer is not issued a receipt. If you dare ask for a receipt after you have been served, the normal excuse from the fuel attendant is ‘There is no paper Sir’ or ‘this particular POS machine does not give receipt’ or ‘please let me go and get a receipt’ expecting you to say ‘no don’t worry I am in a hurry’ before you zoom off at the delight of the fuel attendant.
If you insist on getting your receipt, you may be shocked to find out that between N2,000 – N3,000 worth of fuel has not been dispensed into your tank. It has been retained in the pump and the fuel attendant will collect his loot after the day’s work. Normally, the fuel attendants are supposed to dip the fuel tank and record the closing reading when they close their shift or close work. However, usually they find a way round it by attributing any errors in closing figures to what they call ‘calibration problem. But this has nothing to do with the customer. It is between the attendants and their employers which goes to show that the attendants cheat both the customers and their employers.
Another method used by the fuel attendants is to block you from seeing the actual reading on the meter by taking you into long conversations often times on flimsy and irrelevant topics such as;
‘This your car fine o! etc.
‘E be like say you come to buy fuel in our station last week’ etc.
By the time you realise what is going on, the fuel attendant has finished dispensing and dropped the nozzle. You haven’t seen the last reading to know how much or how many litres were dispensed in your tank. That’s it? You have been cheated!
Sometimes, the meter may be correct but since you are not watching and you are in too much a hurry to collect your receipt, the fuel you paid for will not be the actual quantity that goes into your tank. It pays to always collect your receipt from the fuel attendant to ascertain whether the actual fuel is same as the dispensed.
Many passengers have bought fuel worth that on previous trips, took them to Zaria from Abuja but on getting to Kaduna, they realise that they are already at red on the dashboard because they have been defrauded at the pump.
Looking at the daily domestic demand for petrol (PMS) which is estimated at about 35 million litres, even at a worse case scenario of 20% meter fraud, it means that Nigerians could be shortchanged by 7 million litres of petrol daily.
Do the maths:
7 million litres * N1000 = 7, 000, 000,000
This estimated N7 trillion daily diversion is huge and presumably going into the pockets of fuel attendants and their collaborators
This fraud is perpetrated despite the fact that Nigeria has a sea of regulators saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that what you pay for is what goes into your tank.
Some of these regulators are as follows;
1. The Nigerian midstream and downstream petroleum regulatory authority (NMDPRA) is the chief regulator of the downstream sector of the Nigerian petroleum industry but has not shown the wherewithal to check the meter fraud. Their excuse is that they cannot be at every filling station. How flimsy!
2. The weights and measures department of the Federal ministry of industry, trade and investment (FMITI) which is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that all products are accurately measured so as to protect consumers from being shortchanged.
3. The standards organisation of Nigeria (SON) which is meant to ensure standardization and quality assurance
4. The federal competition and consumer protection commission (FCCPC) whose primary responsibility is to stop such sharp practices that could shortchange the customer and distort competition.
You can go on and on naming these MDAs that were created to ensure that such chicanery and subterfuge are completely eradicated in our dear country.
The apparent lack of resolve to eradicate this fuel meter fraud gives credence to allegations that these fuel attendants and their collaborators and cotravellers are working in cahoots with the regulators especially the NMDPRA to perpetrate this crime against Nigerians who are struggling anyway under Tinubu’s hardship measures which are presented as ‘economic reforms.
The key regulator NMDPRA must up its game and stop this abuse at the pump even if to cushion the excruciating economic strangulation implicated by President Tinubu’s abrupt removal of fuel subsidy in May 2023 in addition to other abrupt removals such as removal of electricity subsidy, removal of education subsidy etc.
The need to ensure that this fuel fraud at the pump is completely eradicated is moreso when juxtaposed with the fact that Nigerians are currently going through the worst economic hardship since records began. Inflation is now at double digits (12.94%). Multidimensional Poverty (MDP) is spreading like wild fire amid very high insecurity resulting in senseless killings and abductions.
At least half of Nigeria’s population (100 million) is living in abject multidimensional poverty (MDP) as the leaders leave in unparalleled affluence with their families and behave as if all is normal in the country.
Moreso, insecurity has resulted in the inability of farmers to go to their farms thus leading to the current food insecurity in this nation that can potentially feed the whole of Africa.
Engr. Abubakar Alkali is an Academic & Activist.
Currently a Senior Lecturer in Petroleum & Gas Engineering at Baze University.
Analysis
Ozoro Festival Scandal Sparks National Debate on ‘Weaponised Traditions’ and Cultural Reform
The controversy surrounding the Ozoro Festival in Delta State has ignited a nationwide debate over harmful cultural practices, following viral videos showing acts of sexual violence and widespread outrage across Nigeria.
The scandal has led to the arrest of six suspects by the police, including a community leader, but many Nigerians argue that the response falls short of justice and fails to address deeper cultural issues.
Critics have described the Ozoro Alue-Do Festival as a “weaponised tradition,” accusing it of reinforcing misogyny and enabling abuse under the guise of cultural celebration. Some members of the Isoko community, however, insist the issue is being misrepresented.
A female indigene, who spoke anonymously, condemned what she described as systemic discrimination against women within the culture, alleging that harmful practices are often excused and victims silenced.
“Women are blamed even in cases of abuse, while perpetrators are shielded,” she said, pointing to long-standing traditions that, in her view, enable injustice.
But cultural analyst Anote Ajelouruo cautioned against sweeping generalisations, arguing that the festival’s origins must be understood within historical context.
He noted that fertility rites were common in many ancient societies and said isolated incidents of misconduct should not define an entire cultural heritage.
“Every society had practices shaped by limited knowledge at the time. What matters is ensuring such traditions are not hijacked or abused,” he said.
Lessons from Ibadan
Observers say reform is possible, pointing to the transformation of the Oke’Badan Festival in Ibadan, which has evolved from a chaotic and unsafe event into a structured cultural celebration.
Journalist and historian Temilade Adeyemi recalled that the festival was once notorious for harassment of women, with vulgar displays and public misconduct.
Today, however, it is widely regarded as a symbol of cultural pride, featuring organised performances and safer participation for women.
Path to Reform
Experts say any attempt to reform the Ozoro Festival must be driven by the community, with traditional leaders playing a central role in redefining its purpose.
They also stress the importance of accountability, urging authorities to ensure that those arrested are prosecuted to rebuild public trust.
Increased participation of women in planning and decision-making is seen as critical to reshaping the festival into a safer and more inclusive event.
Analysts further recommend sustained public education and media engagement to highlight positive cultural values while discouraging harmful practices.
Uncertain Future
Despite the outrage, questions remain over whether meaningful reform will take place or if the festival will continue to attract criticism.
For now, attention remains on both community leaders and law enforcement authorities, as Nigerians watch closely to see whether the incident will mark a turning point or another missed opportunity for change.
By AVM Rtd Akugbe Iyamu MNSA fsi
Extreme weather conditions are unexpected, unusual or severe weather events that fall outside normal patterns, often causing significant disruption, damage to infrastructure, and environmental destruction.
Examples include heatwaves, intense hurricanes, flooding, severe droughts, and tornadoes. These events are becoming more frequent due to climate change.
Nigeria is a country perpetually under elections frenzy: campaigning, off cycle and other electoral activities. These political manifestations always offered little attention to key areas of the environment that threatens economic growth and development, security and poverty, inequality and hunger. As of early 2026, Nigeria hosts over 3.7 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) driven from their homes by conflict, insecurity, and climate disasters. The vast majority of this displacement is concentrated in the North-East and North-West regions, with around 3,900 camps and host communities providing temporary shelter. Currently, Africa is experiencing intensified extreme weather events driven by climate change, primarily manifested as severe droughts, devastating floods, and extreme heatwaves. These events, such as the 2020-2023 Horn of Africa drought and 2024 regional flooding, are becoming more frequent, severely impacting food security, agriculture, and infrastructure.
For instance the death situation in Kenya has risen to 66 and Ethiopia 125 deaths with 11,000 displaced. This is a clear and present danger to Africa and is likely to stretch the existing response measures. At this point NIHSA, NiMet and other agencies need to be called out to show visible signs to the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction. At this point, the country need more emphasis in advising all stakeholders to shift from reactive to proactive climate-informed planning to ensure food security and protect infrastructure. Nigeria need to step up preparation against what we see coming as extreme weather in 2026. From the situations in Ethiopia and Kenya, it is obvious that 2026 will be characterized by variable rainfall and cyclone bomb. We have seen prolonged dry spells, and higher-than-average temperatures early in the year that have threatened the health and security of Nigerians. Based on the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) unveiled by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) on February 10, 2026, the country need to do more. Judging from the heavy snow in the northern hemisphere, nigeria need key preparations that include using AI for better forecasting, tailored agricultural advice, and flood warning systems.
2026 should not be treated like other years. With insecurity, poverty, inequality, high taxation, higher borrowings and higher energy costs, negligence will unravel the economy and underbelly of Nigeria energy security system. Time to act is now because there are too many negatives conflating the country and we have to solve the issues of environmental challenges because when you lack the structure, you attract rupture.
The Federal Government, through the National Orientation Agency (NOA) should be promoting the dissemination of the SCP to local farmers to ensure it directly informs field decisions.
AVM RTD AKUGBE IYAMU MNSA fsi
CONSULTANT ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ANALYST ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES
PRESIDENT ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE PRACTITIONERS
FFK Raises Fresh Questions Over El-Rufai’s Actions, Security Allegations
Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has again raised concerns about the actions and statements of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing some of them as matters that require clarification in the interest of national security.
In a lengthy statement titled “More Questions for Nasir El-Rufai,” Fani-Kayode said he was still awaiting answers to several issues he had previously raised regarding El-Rufai’s conduct while serving in public office.
He also expressed sympathy after reports that El-Rufai allegedly suffered a nosebleed while in detention, noting that he hoped the former governor would soon respond directly to the questions raised.
Fani-Kayode accused the former governor of carrying out several demolition exercises during his tenure as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and later as governor of Kaduna State, claiming that the actions affected residential buildings, communities and facilities, including some used by vulnerable groups.
He further alleged that some of the demolitions occurred close to the end of El-Rufai’s tenure in May 2023, including operations reportedly conducted by the Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority in areas such as Gbagyi Villa and other communities.
According to him, critics had described the demolitions as vindictive, while affected residents alleged that some structures were removed despite legal disputes over the properties.
The former aviation minister also raised issues relating to policies implemented during El-Rufai’s administration in Kaduna State, including restrictions on certain religious activities and the suspension of state-sponsored pilgrimages at the time.
Fani-Kayode additionally referenced tensions between El-Rufai and some political figures, including Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, claiming the relationship deteriorated after the former governor left office.
Beyond the political issues, the statement also touched on security-related concerns, particularly allegations surrounding the bugging of phones and claims involving the possible importation of a toxic substance.
Fani-Kayode said such matters, if true, could pose serious national security implications and called for relevant security agencies to investigate thoroughly.
He expressed confidence that institutions such as the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Police Force, and other intelligence bodies would look into the allegations and determine the facts.
Fani-Kayode maintained that his remarks were intended to raise questions and encourage transparency, emphasizing the need for clarity on issues that could affect national stability and public confidence.