SNOOP COMMUNICATIONS

 OPERATION WHIRLWIND!

FG Combat Trans-border Export of Petrol

. As ‘Operation Whirlwind’ Intercepts 160, 000 Litres of PMS  

The Federal Government’s intensive war against illegal exportation of Premium Motor Spirit {PMS) out of the country has started yielding dividends as a total of 150, 950 litres of PMS have been intercepted at various locations nationwide.

This is coming barely two weeks after the launch of ‘Operation Whirlwind’ – a joint taskforce of the Nigeria Custom Service (NCS) in conjunction with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). This nationwide operation aims to identify, dismantle and disrupt cartels of smugglers operating within the ecosystem so that   Nigerians can enjoy the full benefits of fuel price deregulation in line with the vision of President Bola Tinubu.

‘Operation Whirlwind’ also aims to defend the national currency and reduce pressures that may be attributed to the activities of smugglers even as it raises awareness of the local communities and solicit their support to achieve these objectives.

Within seven days of its sting operations, 150, 950 litres of petroleum products valued at N105, 965, 391 have been intercepted across the country through credible intelligence and counter proactive measures of the taskforce.

This cherry news was disclosed by the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi at a news conference held yesterday in Yola. According to him, a total of 45, 000 litres of PMS in a tanker were seized on 31^st May 2024 at Mova, Adamawa while yet another 45, 000 litres of PMS was also intercepted the following day at Mubi, Adamawa State.

On Monday, June 3, 2024, a total of 2,375 litres of PMS in (95) 25-litre jerry-cans were seized at the same location while on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, a total of 4,450 litres of PMS in (178) 25-litre jerry-cans were seized in three different locations, including Song-Wuroboki, Mubi-Sahuda Road and Gidan Madara/ Sahuda Road all in Adamawa.

 On Thursday, June 6, 2024, intelligence report also facilitated the seizure of a total of 20,030 litres of PMS in 25 and 30-litre jerry-cans in various locations across the country including Maiha, Adamawa State, Illela, Sokoto and Agbaragba Creek in Mfum border of Cross River State.

Again, a total of 32,900 litres of PMS were seized at border locations in the North-East and South-West axis of the country on June 7, 2024 just as another 17,500 litres was seized in Mubi, Adamawa State.

In Imeko, a border town with Benin Republic, the taskforce recorded a haul of 15,400 litres along Imeko/ Obada Road with  (616) 25-litre jerry-cans while on Saturday, June 8, 2024, a total of 8,525 litres of PMS were also seized in two separate locations in Owode (Owode-Ilaro Road and Owode-Atan Road) in Ogun State.

The Comptroller General of Customs further disclosed that the sting operations of the taskforce have resulted in the relative stability of the price of PMS around border states, this according to him, is easily attributed to disruptions in the operations of smugglers.

This development, according to the custom boss, is coming on the heels of the recent massive hike in the pump price of the commodity in neighbouring countries.

He stated that while the average price of petrol in Nigeria was about N701/litre, the average cost of the product in neighbouring countries was N1,787/litre, a development that heightened PMS smuggling out of Nigeria in the past two weeks.

Adeniyi said, “While PMS is sold at an average of N701.99 in Nigeria, it is sold at an average of N1,672.05 in the Republic of Benin and N2,061.55 in Cameroon. In other countries around the region, the price of PMS ranges from N1,427.68 in Liberia to N2,128.20 in Mali, averaging N1,787.57, according to the fuel price data obtained from opensource.”

The customs boss said this comparative price advantage, though beneficial to Nigerian citizens, unfortunately, created a lucrative incentive for smuggling PMS out of Nigeria, where prices were two to three times higher.