Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — In a major blow to fuel smugglers, the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has announced the seizure of over 569,013 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, worth over N600million in the past two weeks.
The seizures were made under the auspices of “Operation Whirlwind”, a joint initiative between the NCS and the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, aimed at curtailing the menace of fuel smuggling across the country’s borders.
Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC, Adewale Adeniyi, said the operation has yielded significant results, with a total of 150,950 liters of PMS valued at N105.9 million intercepted in various locations nationwide.
Adeniyi while briefing newsmen in Yola, lamented the recent surge in fuel smuggling, particularly in Borno, Kebbi, Sokoto, Taraba, and Katsina states, and reiterated the Service’s commitment to collaborating with relevant agencies to ensure the full benefits of fuel price deregulation are enjoyed by Nigerians.
He said the Service had, in response to the alarming increase in fuel smuggling, launched the initiative to defend the National currency, reduce pressures that may be attributed to the activities of smugglers and dismantle their cartels within the ecosystem,
He said, “In the past 2 weeks we have received credible intelligence on the relative stability of the price of PMS around the border states, this is easily attributed to disruptions in the operations of smugglers.
“On Friday 31st May 2024, a total of 45,000 litres of PMS in a tanker was seized at Mubi, Adamawa State.
“On Saturday, 1st June 2024, a total of 45,000 litres of PMS in a tanker was also seized at Mubi, Adamawa, while between Monday, 3rd June 2024, and Friday, 7th June 2024, a total of 92,928 litres of PMS in 25 litres of different sizes of jerry cans at Mubi, Song-Wuroboki, Mubi-Sahuda road and Gidan Madara-Sahuda road, in Adamawa state and others in Illela, Sokoto and Agbaragba creek in Mfum border of Cross River State.”
The Customs boss further stated that NCS had also recorded significant seizures of 129,185 litres of PMS from unpatriotic individuals attempting to deprive Nigerians of access to fuel and cause unnecessary hardship valued at over N90,558,685.
“A combined diversion of 280,135 litres of PMS of N196,524,075.50 raises serious economic concerns with broader implications on National Security.
“Between April and May 2024, Borno and Kebbi States recorded 76% and 59% increases in evacuations, ranking among the top three states. On a year-on-year basis (May 2023 and May 2024), Sokoto and Taraba States recorded the most substantial increases in evacuations, with 247% and 234% increases, respectively.”
