Customs auctions 35,425 litres of seized petrol at N10,000 per jerrycan

The Nigeria Customs Service on Friday announced that it will auction 39,425 litres of petrol seized from smugglers to members of the public at a subsidised rate of N10, 000 per 25-litre jerrycan.

Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this at the Customs Training College, Ikeja while briefing journalists on recent seizures of PMS by operatives of the NCS’s Operation Whirlwind Unit.

Adeniyi who was represented by the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, Kehinde Ejibunu said the seizures were made across various flash point around Ilaro, Imeko, Badagry, Owode, Ajilete with investigations confirming they were intended to be smuggled to neighboring country, Benin Republic.

Giving a breakdown of the seized petrol, Adeniyi said a total of 1,577 jerrycans of PMS, each containing 25 litres were confiscated alongside eight vehicles used as means of conveyance.

He said the duty paid value of the product stands at N39,425 million and that of the means of conveyance stands at N24million, cumulatively amounting to 63,425 million.

“On the instruction of the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi in his magnanimity directed that the PMS is going to be auctioned immediately after this press briefing to the Nigerian citizen, with a twenty-five (25) liters jerrycan, sold at an auction price of ten thousand naira only ₦10,000, ” Adeniyi was quoted as saying.

Adeniyi, while reiterating the Customs’ resolve to nip smuggling of petrol in the bud said the Service will now commence profiling of fuel stations operating around border communities.

He said the essence is to detect moribund and active fuel stations in a bid to identify the ones used for smuggling.

“I will like to re-emphasize that there is no safe haven or hiding place for smugglers and economic saboteurs as we will continue to disrupt all their illegal activities, reducing it to the barest msaying, ” he said.

He added that a total of four suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.

Adeniyi commended the operatives for their commitment, dedication, and resilience in combating fuel smuggling across the various zones.

“It may interest you to know that within the span of one year of this operation so much have been achieved across all the zones, and this achievement was as a result of the commitment, dedication, and resilience of the operatives.

“The office of National Security Adviser, NMDPRA, CGC and office of the Attorney General have commended the efforts of these officers, in bringing down some of these smugglers of premium motor spirits (PMS) popularly known as petrol to their knees.

“About this time last week Friday, we were in Yola, Adamawa State Capital for similar exercise where we auctioned over forty-six thousand (46,000) liters of PMS which was seized by our gallant operatives in that zone, ”

Also speaking at the event, Mr Patrick Musa, an Assistant Director at Lagos Southwest Regional Office of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) lauded the Operation Whirlwind for its efforts.

He stated that the interception of the products has reduced the fuel supply to criminal elements.