Mounting Concerns Over Alleged LPG Meter Manipulation at Retail Outlets
Concerns are escalating across Nigeria regarding alleged manipulation of gas dispensing meters at various liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) retail outlets, a practice that consumers assert is surreptitiously driving up household energy expenses. Reports from multiple locations, including areas in Lagos, Ogun, and Ondo states, indicate that customers are receiving less gas than they have paid for, casting doubt on the measurement integrity at certain filling stations. This development, described by consumers as economic exploitation, is unfolding as the country actively promotes cleaner cooking energy through increased LPG adoption.
Consumer Experiences Highlight Widespread Issues
In Badagry, Lagos State, a consumer shared a troubling account where she sent her young daughter to purchase 2kg of gas. The girl returned home, and within minutes of cooking, the gas was completely exhausted. The mother later returned to the station to protest this incident, drawing the attention of bystanders. The station manager intervened and instructed attendants to refill the cylinder, a response that some consumers interpreted as an indirect acknowledgment of the complaint. "If the meter was accurate, why was there an immediate refill?" customers questioned, highlighting transparency concerns in the transaction.
Similar experiences were reported at two different gas retail outlets in Badagry, fueling fears that this issue may reflect a broader pattern rather than isolated incidents. Energy expert Felix Adekunjo emphasized that this practice effectively increases the cost per kilogram of gas when consumers receive less than what they paid for. He recounted a personal experience in Ondo State, where he purchased 6kg of gas, expecting a total cylinder weight of 13kg since the empty cylinder weighed 7kg. However, when weighed using a hand scale, the cylinder registered only 10kg, revealing a 3kg discrepancy.
Vulnerabilities and Regulatory Calls
Adekunjo explained that many households are vulnerable to this malpractice because they do not own weighing scales and rely solely on digital displays provided by gas retailers. He further alleged that some gas stations deliberately keep weighing scales out of customers' view or fail to install easily accessible measurement equipment at dispensing points. To address these issues, he urged regulatory agencies, including the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), to intensify market surveillance and conduct random inspections of LPG retail outlets.
According to Adekunjo, penalties for offenders should be stringent enough to deter manipulation of dispensing systems. He advised households using LPG to insist on cylinder weighing before and after refilling and suggested that consumers consider purchasing small hand weighing scales to verify gas quantities. He warned that continued malpractice could discourage wider adoption of clean cooking energy and undermine public confidence in the domestic gas market.
Impact on Clean Energy Promotion
"When gas stations manipulate meters, they are not just altering numbers. They are taking money from kitchens, from mothers, and from families already burdened by inflation," Adekunjo stated. He stressed that clean energy promotion should not be compromised by unethical retail practices, adding, "Clean energy must not become a cover for dirty business. Nigeria deserves fairness at the point of sale." This situation highlights the critical need for enhanced oversight to ensure that efforts to transition to cleaner energy sources are not hindered by fraudulent activities in the retail sector.
