The Nigerian Customs Service, Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command, has auctioned 11,270 litres of seized Petroleum Motor Spirits (PMS), popularly known as petrol, to residents of Sokoto at a paltry price of N180 per litre.
The Comptroller of Customs, Sokoto/Zamfara command, Kamal Muhammed, disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the command headquarters in Sokoto on Monday.
“In compliance to the Comptroller General of Customs matching order to seal up all routes used for the smuggling of petroleum products, the Zone ” B” whirlwind tactical team with reinforcement by Officers and men of Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command intercepted 11, 270liters of premium spirit (PMS) popularly called petrol.
“The maritime and cross border smuggling of PMS has a negative impact on the overall supply chain of the product in addition to the possibility of funding of criminal activities with the proceeds.
“Even with the removal of subsidy, the smuggling of PMS brings about extra cost burden on the country both in terms of security of supply and securing of the scarce foreign exchange used to import the product.”
He said the service is poised to continue to protect Nigeria’s economic interest with dedication and integrity without fear or favour in tandem with the provision of the law.
“In line with extant laws and the approval by the Comptroller General of Customs, the seized PMS will be auctioned to the general public today at a token of N180 per litre.
“Relatedly, last week the whirwild zone B tactical team auctioned 20,142 litres of PMS to the general public at Kebbi Area Command,” he added.
Meanwhile, the operatives of the command were said to have turned down a N1.5 million naira bribe from suspected vandals of railway track
He said the men of the command on the 8th of June, 2024, clampdown on a notorious cartel that specializes in vandalisation of railway tracks, alongside a truck conveying a 20-foot container laden with vandalized railway tracks.
Also in the process, three (3) suspects were intercepted by the Command monitoring team at Kajiji along Kebbi road.
According to the Comptroller, “the suspects could not tender evidence of allocation from the Federal Ministry of Transport, instead made an overture to bribe the officers with 1.5 million Naira and even making an advance cash offer of N300,000.
“Out of patriotism and integrity, the Officers chose the path of honour by detaining them at the Command Headquarters.
“As we are all aware, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense (NSCDC) is the Agency mandated to secure Critical National assets, conforming with the Collaboration Policy thrust of the CGC, the Area Command will hand over the Suspects, the truck, and its content and the sum of 300,000 Naira cash to the Commander NSCDC Sokoto Command who is here with us for further investigation and prosecution.”
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