FG to hire 1,000 inspectors to monitor Weights & Measures policy

The Federal government has concluded plans to hire 1,000 inspectors (field officials) to police its weights and measures policy across the country, which is meant to ensure accuracy in weighing and measuring in Nigeria.
Engr. Mohammed Sidi, Acting Director Legal Metrology, Weights and Measures Department of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Industry, who disclosed this while fielding questions from journalists recently in Abuja, said that a thousand inspectors (about 28 inspectors per each state of the federation including Abuja) are needed for effective monitoring and compliance to the laws by businesses across all sectors of the economy.
“From a consumer’s perspective, a kilogram of rice must be a kilogram and no less; a motorist needs to trust the volume delivered by a petrol pump; and mobile telephone user need to trust that one minute airtime must be one minute and no less,” he said.
He explained that the inspectors’ will be guided by metering standards puts in place by the International Organisation of Legal Metrology (OIML) based in Paris.
“Nigeria and most nations are members of this body and one of its functions is to verify and certify national base standards at regular interval.
“These are kept in turn by the weights and measures depart of the ministry. From the base standards other standards of prescribed tolerance are derived, maintained and verified at regular intervals as prescribed by the weights and measures ACT.  This is why it is assured that a certified weights and measure of any magnitude in Nigeria will be the same in other parts of the world,” he said.
He explained that accurate measurement otherwise known as Legal Metrology is very vital in ensuring that all trade transactions in all sectors of the economy are accurate, fair and legal in line with international best practice, and also provides protection of public safety, the environment, consumers and traders.