The Nigeria Customs Service, Kebbi State Command, has auctioned 66,500 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) seized during an anti-smuggling operation aimed at curbing fuel diversion and economic sabotage.
Speaking during the public auction in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday, the Customs Area Controller, Muhammad Ibrahim, said the operation was conducted under the special enforcement unit, Operation Whirlwind.
According to him, the unit is tasked with monitoring and suppressing cross-border smuggling of petroleum products.
“It is with great pleasure that we witness this important milestone in our command. Operation Whirlwind remains a strategic unit saddled with the responsibility of monitoring and suppressing the smuggling of PMS across Nigerian borders,” Ibrahim stated.
He added that the initiative is designed to safeguard national resources and strengthen the economy, noting that recent seizures reflect improved inter-agency collaboration.
The National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Aliyu Abubakar, disclosed that 864 jerrycans of PMS, amounting to about 21,500 litres, were intercepted at various smuggling flashpoints across Kebbi State, including Bagudo, Kamba, and Jega Road.
He revealed that the estimated duty-paid value of the seized fuel exceeds N21.2 million.
Abubakar further disclosed that a tanker carrying about 45,000 litres of petrol was intercepted along the Jega axis. He explained that the product, originally destined for Katsina State, was illegally diverted.
“Its presence along the Jega Road clearly indicates a case of illegal diversion of petroleum products, an act that undermines national economic stability and regulatory frameworks,” he said.
He added that the tanker has been handed over to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority for further investigation and regulatory action.
Abubakar emphasised that the public auction demonstrates the Service’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
“Transparency remains a key pillar of our operations. This exercise demonstrates due process and responsible management of seized items,” he added.
Also speaking, Grace Dauda warned against diversion of petroleum products, noting that such practices disrupt supply distribution and national planning.
“When a product is manifested for a destination like Katsina but diverted elsewhere, it deprives that area of essential supply. These volumes are critical for powering hospitals, security operations, and economic activities,” she said.
She added that such infractions could attract financial penalties and legal action, urging Nigerians to report suspicious movements of petroleum products.
The development comes amid ongoing concerns over fuel smuggling in Nigeria’s border communities, particularly in the North-West, where porous borders and price disparities continue to fuel illegal trade.
Authorities say initiatives like Operation Whirlwind, supported by intelligence gathering and inter-agency cooperation, remain crucial to protecting Nigeria’s fuel supply chain and ensuring economic stability.
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