Trade ministry generates N900 million in 2021

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

Mr Hassan Ejibunu, Director, Weights and Measures Department, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment says the department generated over N900 million in 2021.

Ejibunu disclosed this while fielding questions from newsmen during the midterm review of the strategic plan workshop of the department in Uyo on Monday.

He said that the department targeted one billion during the year 2021 but due to the challenges of insecurity and COVID-19 could not meet the target.

“We had the intention of generating over one billion naira for 2021 but we were able to generate almost a billion because of some challenges beyond our control, such as banditry, insurgency and COVID-19. 

“In spite of these, our officers in the field tried their best and we generated over 900 million in 2021. We have contributed to the national purse.

“Before this time, we nearly meet half a million, but now, year in year out we have been generating some funds into the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

“By the grace of God this year 2022, we are going to surpass the one billion Naira target because the Ministry has gone ahead to give the necessary logistics,” Ejibunu said.

The director said that weights and measures were all about fairness, getting accuracy and that is why the Government has come with the Weights and Measures Act to ensure that the department delivers on its mandate.

On the theme of the workshop, “Legal metrology as a Catalyst for National Development”, the director said that legal metrology covers all facets of Nigeria economy. 

He added that legal metrology was about getting accuracy, fairness and transparency while transacting trade.

“Anything that has to do with legal metrology is a catalyst for national development because you will not be able to cheat consumers. Legal metrology gives you real measurement and accuracy and the consumers will benefit because 30cl has to be complete 30cl.

“Weights and measures are good for both the consumers and the producers. It is about fairness, equity to both the producers and the consumers,” he said.

He called on consumers to be vigilant and insist on accurate measurements when they go out to buy products, adding that consumers have the right to lay complaints in any of their offices if cheated by producers 

Also speaking, Mr Mohammed Sidi, a facilitator and former director in the department said the strategic plan meeting was for key personnel to plan for 2022, stressing that there will be a series of engagements with stakeholders to partner with the department.

Sidi said “Legal metrology is about equity, transparency by weight, by measure and by number, which is part of quality service because there is no quality in anything you buy when you have a shortage of it.

“Weights and measures had been there, but Nigerians are so careless about it, weights and measures are actually to give you the value of your money. That’s what we are trying to enshrine into our system.”

Mrs Cordelia Nwachukwu, Assistant Director and Zonal Coordinator Southeast said that the workshop would review the strategic plan developed since 2018, to know how far the department has gone and how to do better.