Customs Boss declares total war on PMS unrepentant smugglers
From Umar Dankano, Yola
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), C.G Bashir Adewale Adeniyi has declared a total war against unrepentant smugglers on premium motor spirit,PMS in the country.
Adeniyi charged men and officers of the service to redouble efforts in waging the fight against smuggling of Premium motor spirit warning perpetrators to desist or face wrath of the law.
Adeniyi gave the charge at a press briefing held in Yola, the Adamawa state capital on Monday while expressing satisfaction with the feat in curbing the smuggling activities especially the petroleum products at various boarder communities.
Adeniyi announced that the two weeks old collaborative synergy with the office of the National Security adviser, ONSA towards the anti-smuggling on PMS codenamed ‘Operation Whirlwind has already tremendous successes in the country.
He stated that disruptions in the illegal operations of PMS smugglers around border states have brought seizure of a total of 150,950 litres of PMS,valued at N105,965,391in only seven (7) days of intensive operations by the Customs.
According to him, in area of revenue generation,the service has generated over N1 trillion in the first quarter of the year (2024) noting that Nigerians with legitimate businesses should go about their legal commercial activities but be patriotic in paying their revenue promptly.
Comptroller General Adeniyi maintained that operations of the new outfit is being coordinated by a Comptroller of customs which cover all the NCS zones(A-D) with selected officers trained and equipped to handle the task in strict adherence to professionalism.
“Collaboration with the ONSA and NMDPRA supports the operations utilizing internal and external sources.
“The NCS will enforce strict monitoring of tanker movements to ensure PMS products lifted from NMDPRA facilities are delivered to appropriate locations.
“The NCS will collaborate with relevant licensing agencies to manage the proliferation of petrol stations around border areas in the country”. Adeniyi explained.
In his submission,the Executive Director, National Midstream and Downstream petroleum Regulatory Authority,NMDPRA .Mr. Ogbugo Ukoha applauded the effort of the ONSA and NCS in partnering with his Agency to halting the activities of unrepentant smugglers especially the PMS .
Ukoha affirmed that those smuggling petroleum products outside the country illegally are aiding economic sabotage warning that law enforcement agencies will always go after them.
Ukoha reiterated that the law prohibiting petroleum products by retail outlets around the boarders are still prohibited by law of the land.
