Harboursandports.com: Lagos- November 28, 2024: Comptroller-General of Customs CGC, Adewale Adeniyi, has approved the subsidised sale of smuggled Premium Motor Spirit PMS,to residents of Yola, Adamawa State. The decision follows the recent seizure of over 71,965 litres of PMS by operatives of Operation Whirlwind in the Adamawa-Taraba region. The proceeds from the sale will be remitted to the Federation Account.
Comptroller Hussain Ejibunu, National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, made the announcement on 27 November 2024 in Yola, praising CGC Adeniyi and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu for their support. He explained that the initiative is aimed at alleviating the impact of the fuel subsidy removal in the region.
The seized petroleum products, which were intended for illegal export, were confiscated through intelligence and surveillance operations. The haul included 1,124 jerrycans (25, 40, and 60 litres), 53 drums (200 litres each), and 21,000 litres in two tankers, valued at over ₦81.5 million. Most of the seizures occurred along the Cameroon-Nigeria border. The Nigerian Customs Service transferred 13 of the 14 intercepted tankers to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA in Yola.
Ejibunu also confirmed the arrest of a suspect involved in the smuggling operation, who is currently facing prosecution. He emphasized that Operation Whirlwind has helped ease fuel scarcity in Adamawa by reducing price volatility and stabilizing fuel supply. The operation's broader goal is to combat illegal oil bunkering and smuggling.
Comptroller Garba Bashir, Customs Area Controller for Adamawa/Taraba, called for collaboration among all stakeholders to tackle smuggling, urging the public and the press to share intelligence for improved economic outcomes.
Humuri Timothy, a representative of NMDPRA in Adamawa, commended the Customs Service for its ongoing efforts to combat fuel smuggling at Nigeria’s borders.
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