The Federal Government has raised concerns over the escalating smuggling of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, due to a significant price hike in neighboring countries. While petrol costs an average of N701 per liter in Nigeria, it averages N1,787 per liter in nearby countries, intensifying smuggling activities in recent weeks.
Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, highlighted this issue during a press conference in Yola. He revealed that the NCS, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), has launched Operation Whirlwind to combat the smuggling crisis.
Adeniyi noted that the removal of the fuel subsidy about a year ago led to higher fuel prices in Nigeria. Despite inflationary pressures, petrol prices in Nigeria remain the lowest in the West and Central African regions. This price disparity has incentivized smuggling, particularly in border states where significant increases in fuel evacuations have been recorded.
In response, Operation Whirlwind aims to curb fuel smuggling, defend the national currency, and dismantle smuggling cartels. The operation has already resulted in the interception of 150,950 liters of petrol valued at N105,965,391 over the past two weeks.
The NCS, along with ONSA and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), will continue to monitor and enforce measures to ensure the availability of PMS within Nigeria and reduce smuggling activities. The government emphasizes the importance of cooperation from all agencies and the public to address this critical issue.
