Meter Scam: Fuel Attendants And Drivers Face Off In Tense Standoff

Meter Scam: Fuel Attendants And Drivers Face Off In Tense StandoffAs fuel availability fluctuates, those trying to fill their tanks often face long queues, inflated prices, and the harsh reality of exploitation at filling stations, where tampered pumps and altered meters turn refueling into a frustrating ordeal.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Yekini Ismaila, a 36-year-old tricycle driver, embodies this struggle. After driving for over nine hours, he is exhausted and overwhelmed. Each morning, he sets out from Akeran town in Ogun State, picking up passengers along the Magboro-Akeran Road. His daily earnings barely cover his family’s needs, and he must also save for weekly tricycle installments.

Ismaila acquired his second-hand tricycle through a hire-purchase agreement in February 2024, leaving him and his family in debt until the payment is complete. Alongside this financial burden, he grapples with fuel scarcity, rising prices, and poor road conditions. “It feels like the fuel disappears right after they pump it,” he complains, as he navigates potholes. “I pay N7,500 in weekly installments. It’s a lot.”

In the past year, Nigeria has faced ongoing fuel shortages, often leading to price hikes. Once a motorcycle rider in Lagos, Ismaila relocated his family to Ogun, hoping for better opportunities, only to confront harsh realities. “I have a family to care for, a tricycle to maintain, and debts to settle,” he explains. “I’ve noticed that the petrol we pay for isn’t what we actually get. It’s hard to get out of the vehicle and measure it, so now I buy petrol in kegs to track the amount.”

Investigating Ismaila’s claims, Sunday PUNCH uncovered widespread manipulation of fuel dispensers in many filling stations. Between July 16 and August 4, the reporter visited various stations in Lagos and Ogun, finding discrepancies in fuel quantities sold. Some stations appeared to prioritize profit over integrity, using rigged pumps to shortchange customers, exacerbating the financial strain on families already facing economic hardship.

For years, Ishola Ojetunde avoided filling stations along the Berger-Interchange route of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, wary of their practices. However, when fuel scarcity left him with no options, he reluctantly stopped at a station in Asese. “I bought N15,000 worth of fuel because I didn’t trust them,” he said. After telling the attendant to fill his tank, he was distracted by a vendor selling plantain chips. When he resumed his journey, his vehicle soon showed signs of low fuel, raising suspicions about the integrity of the filling station’s practices.

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