As Nigerians grapple with rising living costs, the Federal Government is preparing a nationwide crackdown on traders and businesses accused of giving customers less than the quantities they pay for, warning that short measures unfairly drain household incomes.
The planned operation will target open markets, filling stations, supermarkets and other commercial outlets, with authorities promising surprise inspections, test purchases and public identification of repeat offenders.
Dr Salim Mohammed, Director of the Weights and Measures Department of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, disclosed the plan in Abuja, describing accurate measurement as essential to consumer protection and fair trade.
Under the initiative, tagged Full Measure, Fair Trade, the department will work with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the National Metrology Institute of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria to strengthen enforcement.
“In a period of economic hardship, every short litre and every short kilogram is a direct tax on the poorest households,” Mohammed said.
The campaign will cover petroleum products, open markets, supermarkets, pharmaceuticals, aviation, agriculture and export terminals, where inaccurate measurement can leave consumers and businesses paying for goods they do not fully receive.
Mohammed said enforcement would combine announced verification exercises with unannounced spot checks, mystery-shopper test purchases and joint operations.
“Results will be published, with repeat offenders named,” he said.
The department also warned traders against using unauthorised measurement systems for commercial transactions. Mohammed said metric units remained the legally recognised standard, while traditional measures such as mudu, derica and kongo could not be used commercially unless their production and use received the department’s approval.
Beyond protecting shoppers, the government says accurate measurement can help businesses prevent revenue leakages and improve accountability.
Mohammed cited the training of 58 technical personnel at Dangote Cement Plc’s Ibese plant in Ogun State for weighbridge competency certification, describing measurement standards as important to business efficiency and public confidence.
The department plans to engage state governments, market associations and organised private-sector groups to ensure awareness campaigns precede enforcement.
It operates 38 state offices and an office in the Federal Capital Territory, in addition to seven zonal offices and its Abuja headquarters.
While the government has outlined the scope of the planned crackdown, it has yet to announce a specific start date.
The test will be whether the initiative moves beyond inspections and warnings to sustained enforcement that protects consumers from being short-changed at the point of purchase.