Buying petrol in Nigeria has become a major burden for car owners and commercial drivers, with petrol taking a huge chunk of household budgets. Getting full value at the pump has therefore become crucial.
Yet many motorists leave filling stations with tanks that empty faster than expected. While mechanical faults sometimes cause high consumption, dishonest pump attendants often shortchange drivers right before their eyes.
Regulators like the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) have urged buyers to stay alert.
Here are four common tricks:
- The un-reset zero trick
The most common method relies on distraction. When a vehicle pulls up, the attendant engages the driver in quick chat, asking how much fuel is needed while slotting the nozzle into the tank.
Instead of clearing the previous sale, dispensing starts from where the meter stopped. For instance, if the last buyer bought N3,000 fuel, the attendant starts from that mark until it reaches the amount requested.
The attendant rushes the transaction to prevent the driver from checking the display. You pay the full amount requested, but receive less fuel. Always ensure the meter resets to zero before dispensing starts.
2. The rapid trigger squeeze
A standard nozzle has a locking clip for steady flow. Dishonest attendants ignore the lock and operate the trigger manually, pressing and releasing rapidly.
Each time the trigger is squeezed and released, liquid flow halts momentarily, but air pressure can register on the meter. The stop-and-start routine makes the counter count air alongside fuel, leaving you with fewer litres.
3. The stretched and folded pipe routine
Hoses are designed to be long and flexible, but that length can trap fuel already measured and paid for.
An attendant may leave the hose sagging on the ground or step on a fold while dispensing. When the machine stops, fuel remains trapped in the sag instead of draining into the tank.
The attendant quickly pulls out the nozzle and hangs it back without lifting the hose. That trapped fuel drains back or becomes an unearned bonus for the attendant.
4. The intentional short-sale distraction
This targets buyers of large volumes or those distracted with phones. An attendant hears N20,000 but knowingly enters N10,000 into the pump.
When the pump cuts off at N10,000, the attendant feigns a mistake, apologises, and offers to complete the balance in a second run.
During the confusion, the attendant resets the meter and manipulates the split amounts, often shaving off several litres while the driver is distracted.
- Media Report