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- Says smuggling account for diversion of N197m worth of PMS
By Billy Graham Abel, Yola
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, (NCS) Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has declared a total war against the smugglers of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in the country saying the combined diversion of over of 280,135 litres of PMS valued at about N197 million raises grave economic concerns which constitutes national economic sabotage which has broader implications on National Security of the country.
Adeniyi said, the huge evacuation of petroleum products in the country into neighbouring countries must be stopped and the activities of the smuggling rings must be dismantles and the perpetrators apprehended and brought to book, so that Nigerians can reap the benefits of president Tinubu’s reforms which he said smuggling activities has deprived Nigerians.
Bashir Adewale made this known while addressing Newsmen on the activities of the recently launched Operation whirlwind, in Yola, Adamawa state.
Adewale decried that just between April and May 2024, Borno and Kebbi States recorded 76% and 59% increases in evacuations PMS, ranking among the top three states in the country n a year-on-year basis (May 2023 and May 2024) while Sokoto and Taraba States recorded the most substantial increases in evacuations, with 247% and 234% increases, respectively and that border states like Katsina and Kebbi also recorded more than 50% increases in evacuation.
He said, there are abounding evidence of descrepancies in evacuation patterns especially in states at the border region between Nigeria and other neighbouring countries that has raised red flags which the service has tracked and gathered sufficient evidence and credible intelligence to suggest an unusual upscale of the movement of PMS suggestive of smuggling activities.
Whike addressing the press Adewale explained that, “In response to the alarming increase in fuel smuggling, the NCS in close collaboration with the NSA initiated Operation Whirlwind aimed at, “Ensuring that Nigerians enjoy the full benefits of fuel price deregulation in line with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Defend the National currency and reduce pressures that may be attributed to the activities of smugglers.
“Identify, dismantle and disrupt cartels of smugglers operating within the ecosystem.
“And to aise awareness of the local communities and solicit their support to achieve these objectives.”
He added that NCS guided by strong intelligence and empowered by the new Customs Act 2023, “Targets illegal exportation, particularly of petroleum products, ensuring their availability within the country and conserving government resources.”
Saying, “Federal Operating Units and Marine Commands have intercepted a total of 129,185 litres of fuel valued at N 90,558,685. Notably, 54.48% of these seizures occurred in the North-West region, including states such as Katsina, Kebbi, and Sokoto, while 23.87% of the seizures were recorded in the NorthEastern part of the country, particularly in states like Taraba and Adamawa. It is worth noting that these states have also seen a significant increase in fuel evacuation as reported by the NMDPRA.
“A combine diversion of 280,135 litres of PMS N196,524,075.50 raises serious economic concerns with broader implications on National Security.
“The quantum of this diversion is equivalent to the more than 84% of the daily evacuation of PMS to states like Ekiti and Jigawa.
“It also represents around 32.57% of the daily evacuation to the border states of Borno and Katsina according to the data on average daily evacuation obtained from NMDPRA.
“These activities, if left unchecked, could further deteriorate the country’s economic situation and exacerbate current foreign exchange challenges.”
