ASHENEWS reports that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has intercepted 500 jerry cans and two drums of smuggled Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, with a duty-paid value exceeding N25.9 million in Niger State.
The NCS announced this on Wednesday during a press briefing at the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Niger-Kogi Command headquarters in Minna.
Speaking to journalists, Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, Hussein Ejibunu, said that the smuggled products were discovered at various smuggling hotspots along the Babana border axis, including Kabe-Tunga-Madugu Road, Kabe-Kibera Road, Dekara-Gedang-Zana Road, and Babana-Gwarizo Road.
Ejibunu, who also doubles as the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind Nationwide—a special task force against PMS smuggling—described the interception as one of the largest in the state’s history.
“Smuggling of PMS is detrimental to the survival of Nigeria. It has economic disadvantages and security disadvantages as well. It will interest you to note that most of those bandits attacking us, how do they get food, is through this means. And now it is prudence equally to believe and allow such quantum of fuel to go outside Nigeria to go into their hands.
“It means we are fueling our traducers, giving them more power and energy to come in to attack us. It is important to note that as Nigerians, it is our responsibility when you see something, you say something. Do not allow this to continue because a lot of persons within Nigeria are looking for this product, and they may not even get it,” he said.
Although Ejibunu said that no suspect was arrested as the suspects ran away and left the smuggled products when they discovered that they were being pursued, he charged personnel of the NCS to intensify efforts to apprehend suspects going forward.
“I want our officers to know that your job is incomplete if you do not bring a suspect. Suspect is germane and critical towards establishing the ways and manner where these smuggled products are being taken to and who is receiving it.”
He attributed the continuous smuggling of PMS outside the country to greed declaring that it is stealing and daylight robbery.
“Our refineries are working now but people still take out our fuel and sell it to people in other countries. Our PMS is for in-house consumption and not for export. Anyone who wants to export it should pass through the due process,” he said.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for providing technical and regulatory backing.
On his part, the Customs Area Controller for the Niger-Kogi Command, Pascal Chibuoke, commended the vigilance of officers and called for more operational resources, especially with the increasing activities of terrorist groups near the Babana axis.
“This seizure demonstrates the power of collaboration,” Chibuoke said. “With better logistics and sustained support, we can curb smuggling to the barest minimum.”
This online platform reports that the seized fuel has been approved for public auction, with each 25-litre jerry can to be sold at N10,000.
