Customs collaborates with NNPCL to tackle petrol smuggling

Customs collaborates with NNPCL to tackle petrol smuggling

…As Operation Whirlwind makes giant strides 

In a bid to conquer the war against  smuggling of petroleum products in Nigeria, the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Adewale Adeniyi has reassured his commitment to reinvigorate the existing collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited to effectively combat the smuggling of petroleum products outside Nigeria.

In a meeting with the delegates from NNPC on Friday, July 5, 2024, at the headquarters of NCS in Abuja, CGC Adeniyi stated that smuggling constitutes a severe national burden on the Nigerian economy.

He said the current habitual that exists in the prices of fuel between Nigeria and the neighbouring countries creates a very huge incentive for smuggling,  that is why NCS, through ‘Operation Whirlwind’ is working with other stakeholders to intensify their efforts in ensuring that smuggling of Premium Motor Spirits (PMS) is brought to the barest minimum.

He said, “The operations that we have done have thrown up a number of issues, but despite these, I am happy we have made fantastic seizures from different parts of the country, and we saw the ingenious ways in which smugglers take supplies from depots.

“The stations might look empty from the front. Still, directly behind, they have linked the hoses through some artificial holes created in their walls into waiting jerrycans and vehicles from where they take them across the borders”.

Still speaking, he said, “It is an act of economic sabotage, and those that we have seen, we have arrested them, confiscated the product that were seen, we sealed up the filling stations, and we have handed them over to the regulatory authorities to handle.

“Some filing station operators tactically devise means to smuggle fuel in a way that is not noticeable.”

Adeniyi disclosed that fighting the heinous crime is a significant operation, creating a considerable burden on NCS resources, but it has been a very rewarding exercise for NCS. He said, “We felt that we could have a very good partnership with NNPC for us to sustain this operation over a period of time”.

Expressing his excitement, the CGC said, “We are happy we had a secondment from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). But customs need a situation room where we get data that speak on the issue of enhancing our capacity.

“Also, our personnel will be motivated and taken care of, so they won’t be in a situation of compromise”.