The Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment on Tuesday in Lokoja sealed off the NNPC Mega Station and 10 others for allegedly short-changing unsuspecting motorists.
The mega station affected is located at the Ganaja road junction. Also affected were Total, Conoil, Oando and some independent marketers.
They were also accused of failing to produce the 2010 and 2011 certificates of verification when the surveillance team demanded for them.
The mega station was also served with notice of prosecution for allegedly obstructing the Federal Government’s team from inspecting and ascertaining its dispensing facilities.
The surveillance team accused the remaining stations of failing the field standard tests measure carried out on them.
It also seized 10 nozzles and one hose from the mega station, which completely paralysed its operations.
Reacting to the development, Alhaji Dan Musa, the Manager in charge of the mega station, denied obstructing the officials from performing their duties.
NAN reports that the Weights and Measures Act 2004 (Cap W3) empowers the Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry, now renamed Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, to regulate the activities of weight users in the country.
The Leader of the team, Mrs Crescentia Erukpeme, said that Lokoja had made history as the first town where all stations visited by the team failed the standard tests.
“It will no longer be business as usual.”
The team leader also said that the filling stations in Lokoja and other major towns in the state would, henceforth, come under regular surveillance by the ministry.
According to her, the stations failed to produce their certificates of verification for 2010 and 2011 and denied the Federal Government of its well deserved revenue.
Erukpeme said that the stations would remain under lock and key until they cleared themselves of all the offences levelled against them.
She said that the ministry would not rest on its oars until Nigerians began to get value for their money.