The Nigeria Customs Service, Sokoto/Zamafara Area Command, has auctioned 55,164 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol, at a reduced price in Sokoto.
In a press briefing held at the Nigeria Customs Service Sokoko/Zamfara Are Command in Sokoto on Wednesday, 10 July 2024, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Kamal Mohammed, stated that the intelligence-driven tactical team code-named Operation Whirlwind made a seizure of 28,116 Litres while the Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command Patrol Team made a seizure of 23,030 litres of PMS.
He said, “Even with the subsidy removal, Nigeria remains among the countries with the cheapest Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)".
“The smuggling of the product has continued to create artificial scarcity in some parts of the country and also brought about additional burden on the country’s scarce foreign exchange used to import the product”, he stated.
In adherence to legal protocols and under the approval of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller Muhammad acknowledged that the seized PMS will be available to the public.
“This initiative not only aims to recover lost revenues but also serves as a deterrent against illegal activities that threaten Nigeria's economic stability.
The CAC recalled that some weeks ago, under the directive of the CGC, the command auctioned 11,270 litres of PMS that were intercepted by operatives of 'Operation Whirlwind'.
He warned that the Nigeria Customs Service will relentlessly pursue those engaging in illegal activities to safeguard the country's borders and economic interests.