From Joseph Asegba, Yola
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized 38,700 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), valued at N63.1 million, in Adamawa State during a six-week crackdown on fuel smuggling.
The seizure, carried out under Operation Whirlwind, also included a vehicle allegedly used to transport the petroleum product.
The seized petrol was packed in 1,548 jerrycans, each with a capacity of 25 litres.
The combined duty-paid value of the petrol and the vehicle was estimated at N63.115 million.
The National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abubakar Lucky Aliyu, disclosed this at a press conference in Yola on Wednesday.
He said the intelligence-driven operations targeted identified smuggling hotspots across the state over the past six weeks.
The affected routes included the Malabu-Belel, Girei-Wuro Bokki, Gurin-Fufore, Wuro Alhaji-Maiha and Mubi-Sahuda corridors in Zone D.
Aliyu described the operation as part of the broader mandate of Operation Whirlwind to combat the smuggling and illegal diversion of petroleum products, protect the national economy and safeguard public safety.
He warned that fuel smuggling undermined domestic supply, particularly during periods of distribution challenges, stressing that petroleum products intended for the Nigerian market must not be illegally diverted across international borders.
According to him, the seized petrol will be auctioned to the public because of its inflammable nature, in accordance with the Customs Act, while the proceeds will be remitted to the Federation Account.
Meanwhile, the Adamawa State Coordinator of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Dr Bashir Sirajo, attributed the persistence of fuel smuggling to price differences between Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
He explained that the price differentials created strong incentives for the illegal diversion of petroleum products and could contribute to artificial scarcity in border communities.
Sirajo expressed optimism that sustained collaboration between the NMDPRA and the Nigeria Customs Service would help curb the menace.
