EJIBUNU SPITS FIRE; ARRESTS 14 LOADED FUEL TANKERS FOR DIVERSION IN ADAMAWA/TARABA
From all indications, smuggling of petrol (PMS) seemed to have thrived unhindered in the northern axis of Yola owing to the porous border towns there where smuggling of the product has remained very lucrative until the emergence of the Operation whirlwind of the customs service co-ordinated by a no- nonsense officer, Comptroller HK Ejibunu.
Since the inception of the Operation few months ago, he has landed in Yola four times in what he calls his ‘fourth missionary journey’ to showcase the feats in the seizure profile of the petroleum products.
Just today, Ejibunu exhibited seizures of petrol with monetary value of more than N81.5 million recorded in just a month, apart from the interception of 14 loaded fuel tankers which were being diverted. They were consequently handed over to relevant petroleum agencies in Adamawa and Taraba.
Another petrol tanker behind the officers
This is part of the volume of PMS which was meant to be smuggled across the borders to Cameroon, thereby causing unnecessary scarcity of the product in Nigeria.
The seized items include:
1,124 Jerry Cans of 25, 40 and 60 Litres Capacity each of PMS
53 drums of 200 litres capacity each filled with PMS
21,000 litres of PMS conveyed in two fuel tankers totalling 71,965 litres intended to be smuggled into the adjacent country, the Republic of Cameroon.
Five vehicles and two motorcycle.
Still on the anti-smuggling drives and in the spirit of inter-agency collaboration, the Operatives, had intercepted fourteen (14) fuel tankers loaded with PMS on the ground of product diversions and smuggling. Out of the 14 fuel tankers intercepted 13 were handed over to NMDPRA in Yola while one to NMDPRA in Taraba State for continued inter-agency action. It will interest you to know that the team equally arrested a suspect in connection to smuggling activities and he is currently facing prosecution.
It is evident that the anti-smuggling crusade of the Operation Whirlwind had allowed Adamawa State to witness a stable and sufficient supply of PMS, reduce scarcity and price instability. The team had repositioned all its machineries across the nation’s frontiers to curtail the activities of illegal oil marketers. Let me inform you that the PMS showcased today will be auctioned to the general public immediately after this briefing as a result of its inflammable nature as provided in the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023 and the Standard Operating Procedures while the proceed will be remitted into the federation account.
To the patriotic Nigerians and the genuine oil Marketers, I want to inform you that Nigeria Customs Service is committed to facilitate legitimate trade as contained in NCS Act 2023 as this fight is against the illicit oil marketers and the economic saboteurs. I encourage all legitimate oil marketers to go out with their normal business without fear of harassment or seizure of their products.
To the press, we extend our heartfelt thanks for your invaluable contributions and implore to persevere in your advocacy against smuggling activities.
To the management of the Nigeria Customs service under the stewardship of Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, we appreciate your efforts for continued support and by providing enabling environment for the team to operate effectively. The accomplishment recorded so far is predicated on the the cooperation and strong support from Adamawa/Taraba Area Command and other units of the service such as FOU ‘D’, CIU, SIS and other security agencies.