From Umar Danladi Ado, Sokoto
The Nigeria Customs Services has auctioned sales to the general public of 25,162 litres of seized Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol that was intercepted by operatives of operations in the area at a subsidized rate.
Auctioning the confiscated fuel to the people on Wednesday at the area command, the customs area comptroller, Kamal Muhammed recalled that some weeks ago under the directive of the Comptroller General of Customs, the command auctioned 11,270 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly called petrol that was intercepted by operatives of operation Whirlwind Sokoto/Zamfara axis.
“Due to the intensified clamp down of smugglers of petroleum product, the service made a seizure of 55,164 litres of PMS with a duty paid value (DPV) of N38,669,964.00 within the period under review.”
According to him, the intelligence-driven tactical team code-named Operation Whirlwind made a seizure of 28,116 litres while the Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command patrol teams made a seizure of 23,030 litres of PMS.
Even with the subsidy removal, Nigeria remains among the list of countries with the cheapest Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
PMS is sold at an average of N701.99k per litre in the country while in Cameroon it is sold at N2,061.55k, Mali is N2,128.20k and N1,672.05k in the Republic of Benin.
PMS price margin between Nigeria and other West African countries has made smuggling of the product an easy profit-making venture for smugglers as it fetches them two or three times its domestic price.
The smuggling of the product has continued to create artificial scarcity in some parts of the country and also brought about an additional burden on the country’s scarce foreign exchange used to import the product.
In line with extant laws and the approval of the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the seized litres of PMS were auctioned to the general public at a token of N180 per litre.
The Service will continue to protect Nigeria’s economic interest with dedication, justice and integrity.
At this juncture, let me use this medium to pass across the Comptroller General of Customs message to the smugglers which is, “Nigeria Customs Service will run you out of your illegitimate business.”
He thanked the press for their usual support and cooperation to the command saying “The service appreciates your support in its efforts toward upholding the rule of law and protecting the interest of the nation.
“It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to today’s briefing aimed at keeping the public abreast with Nigeria Customs Service activities in Sokoto/Zamfara Command.”
