Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — In a move against fuel smuggling, the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, has ordered the immediate auction of seized smuggled Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, commonly known as petrol, at N630 per litre.
The directive follows the successful seizure of Cameroon-bound lorries laden with 1,046 kegs of petrol and 12 drums of petroleum products during Operation Whirlwind.
Adeniyi said the Nigeria Customs Service has intensified efforts across various border regions, resulting in substantial seizures, including those from the Sokoto-Kebbi and Cross River-Akwa Ibom areas.
The Customs boss represented by Deputy Comptroller-General Aliyu Alajogun, while briefing newsmen in Yola, Adamawa State, detailed the operation’s significant achievements since its launch in June 2024.
The auction, set to take place at two petrol stations in Yola, aims to ensure fair access to fuel amidst ongoing efforts to regulate the market and curb smuggling activities.
He emphasized the importance of public cooperation in combating smuggling, urging citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.
He stated, “Our ongoing operations have recorded substantial seizures in various locations. The full force of the law will be brought to bear on anyone caught smuggling our nation’s resources.”
He further called for community support, saying, “Your vigilance and cooperation are crucial in our collective efforts to safeguard our nation’s resources and ensure that the benefits of fuel price deregulation are fully realized by all Nigerians.”
The Customs boss also highlighted the negative impact of smuggling, warning that aiding smugglers to execute their illegal activities can have serious consequences for the economy, and affirmed the agency’s commitment to protecting the nation’s resources.
