Motorists in Lagos were jubilant on Monday as Nigeria Customs Service
men dispensed off with 53,750 litres of seized premium motor spirit
popularly called petrol at N2000 per jerry-can of 25litres to members
of the public.
The petroleum products, seized from smugglers who were suspected to be
Benin Republic bound, were stored in 2,150 units of 25kg plastic
jerry-cans.
At the current landing cost of N171 per litre of the product , it is
estimated to cost N9,191,250.
Addressing newsmen at the Customs Training College, Ikeja, Garba
Mohammed, Controller of Customs in charge of Federal Operations Unit,
Zone A , said the seizure is part of customs efforts at protecting the
nation’s economy.
According to Mohammed, operatives of the service owe the country a
duty to prevent economic saboteurs from inflicting hardship on the
Nigerian people through smuggling a product that is meant for use by
Nigerians.
He said proceeds from the sales will be paid into Federal Government
account while the sale being openly done was witnessed by the
command’s accountant and auditors
He said the seizures were made around the creeks of Seme border
leading to the neighboring country of Republic of Benin. According to
him, they were already packed in boats waiting to be illegally shipped
out of Nigeria.
He added that the service decided to sell it off at a location far
away from where it was seized to prevent smugglers and their
accomplices from buying it again and making merchandise of it.
Mohammed disclosed that the Controller General of Customs, Col. Hameed
Ali approved that some of the PMS be shared among security agencies
who at various times assisted in making the seizures, to fuel their
operational vehicles in the discharge of their duties.
Representatives of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police, Lagos State
Fire Service and some units of the customs were given some of the
products while members of the public were allowed to buy the product
with the jerrycans.
