OPERATION WHIRLWIND MAKES N380 MILLION PETROLEUM SEIZURE IN 2 MONTHS—EJIBUNU
By: Timothy Paul Okorocha
The Operation Whirlwind Task Force Team has intercepted over 466,000 liters of premium motor spirit (PMS) worth over N380 million since its inception in May this year.
The National Co-ordinator of the Task Force, an anti-smuggling czar, Comptroller Hussein Kehinde Ejibunu disclosed this to newsmen in Lagos today.
While showcasing more than 138 drums of petroleum products, at 230 liters each, equivalent of 31,740 liters, valued at N25 million, seized by the zone A axis , he stated that the products were intercepted at Imeko/Afon area in Ogun state in the wee hours of Wednesday by the zone A Team headed by Assistant Comptroller AZ Abubakar.
According to him, in keeping with the zero tolerance of illegal exportation of petroleum products to neighboring countries, the officers have remained determined in pursuit of this mandate, noting that the statistics and seizure profile give credence to this. Ejibunu pointed out that two suspects were also arrested in connection with this crime while investigation is ongoing.
He said just two weeks ago, they equally exhibited the seizure of 18,135 liters of PMS valued at N13.2 million, while just four days ago, he was in calabar where he led journalists to see the 26,625 liters of same product valued at N20 million seized by the Team in zone C.
The Co-ordinator informed members of the fourth estate of the realm that it was part of President Tinubu’s led administration to curb the menace of illegal petroleum exportation that the Comptroller General of the customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, in conjunction with the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), set up Operation Whirlwind Task force.
‘It is no longer news to Nigerians of the humongous revenue that is daily lost to oil theft. This accounts for the reduction of the nation’s daily oil production from 2.1 million to 1.1 million barrels’. He recalled that 41,425 liters with Duty paid value of N48 million was also seized recently in Adamawa.
He fingered some assassination threat against some members of the Task Force as one of the challenges facing the unit but noted that measures have been taken to deal with the issue using intelligence as it bothers on security.
Ejibunu did not mince words saying ‘ perpetrators of this dastardly act of smuggling ought to know by now that the music has changed which means the dancing steps must equally change’
He counseled them to embrace legitimate trade or risk prosecution. ‘Two officers have been marked for assassination as a result of the efforts they have put in to tame this economic sabotage
We can not be intimidated as we will continue to work harder more than ever before to achieve our mandate’ Ejibunu deposed. He said the customs was not against Nigerians but that legitimate trade must be sustained to improve the economy of the country.
According to him, due to the Task Force’s intervention, petroleum products allocated to states now get to their destination which has stabilized the price of the products in parts of the country.
He revealed that the Task Force has enumerated the number of active petrol stations in the country and around the border areas to ensure close monitoring of the product while making concerted efforts to nip smuggling of the products in the bud.