WAR AGAINST PETROLEUM SMUGGLING GAINS TRACTION; AS SOUTHERN CONTROLLERS JOIN EJIBUNU TO SHOWCASE 26,625 LITRES OF PMS SEIZURE IN CALABAR
Top echelon officers of the Nigeria customs service in the Southern part of the country joined the Co-ordinator of the Operation Whirlwind Task Force Team today in Calabar to showcase its scorecard on the war against petroleum smuggling in the southern/Eastern zone.
Co-ordinator of the Task Force, Comptroller Hussein Kehinde Ejibunu announced the seizure of N40.05 million worth of premium motor spirit (PMS) to the tune of 26,625 liters in so short a time.
These interceptions, he told newsmen, were made in different dates and locations across Agbaragba-Ikom, Akansoko road, Ikom-Ogoja road and other places within the zone. It is worthy to note that in collaboration with NMDPRA our operative monitor the supply and distribution chain right from the depot of loading up to the final destination (Retail Outlets) to ensure PMS reach its manifested destinations.
As you are all aware the terrain here in South-South and South-East is mostly covered by Riverine areas. Despite these challenge we were able to record these tremendous successes. That is why it is imperative to sincerely thank the C/River/Akwa Ibom Area Command, F.O.U Zone C and Border drill for their continuous support towards success of this Special Operation and their quick response whenever we call upon them.
On this note, we urge members of the PMS smuggling cartels to have a re-think and better go into legitimate businesses because we will continue to go after them as economic saboteurs, as there’s no place for their illegal activities. The illegal exportation of Nigeria’s PMS to our neighboring countries will not be tolerated by Nigeria customs service.
For your information this operation is jointly coordinated by the ONSA and NCS in synergy with NMDPRA a regulatory authority in oil &Gas sector.
Gathering here in Calabar this morning, the headquarters of C/River/AKWA Ibom/FTZ Area Command is for me to showcase to the general public another milestone recorded by the operatives of Operation Whirlwind in zone C axis.
He stated that, Just last week he did a press conference in Lagos and Kebbi both in zones A&B respectively during which I showcase huge seizures of petroleum products. This is in continuation of our resolve to disrupt and dismantle the network of cartels /smugglers of Premium Motor Spirit.
According to him, Today marks another milestone in our fight against smuggling of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) across Nigeria’s borders, you may recall the maiden press conference granted by the CGC in Yola, Adamawa State in zone ‘D’, two weeks after inauguration of the special operations on 31st may, 2024. During that press conference, the CGC displayed a combined total seizure of 280,135 liters of PMS worth over 195.5million.