The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operation Unit, Zone A, intercepted two tankers carrying 80,055 litres of tainted diesel in Ogun State’s Ijebu Ode Local Government Area.
Hussein Ejibunu, the acting Comptroller of the Unit, stated that the drivers of the trucks fled when they saw the customs officers on patrol and that the petroleum product was handed over to officials of the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency.
The Customs chief stated that the petroleum product is of poor quality after a sample was collected and tested by NMDPRA, and that the papers used to convey it were also forged.
Giving a breakdown of the seizures and particulars of means of conveyance, the Acting Controller said one of the tanker with registration number DBT 599 XA was laden with 44,450 litres while the other one with registration number USL 561 ZC had 35,605 litres of the diesel.
Ejibunu warned that FOU Zone A area will always be a ‘no-go-area’ for smugglers, duty evaders and perpetrators of other illegal activities.
He advised Nigerians to be patriotic and shun any form of commercial activity that runs foul of the law.
Reacting, Patrick Musa, an official of the NMDPRA while receiving the seizures explained that the products were found to be off specification and fell below approved standards for use in Nigeria.
He added that the product could not have been lifted from any approved depots within the country.
Musa commended the NCS for the seizure which he described as the good beginning of a productive synergy between NMDPRA and the NCS.
