Nigeria: Customs to auction seized petrol at N400/litre

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced plans to auction 15,325 litres of seized premium motor spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, at a subsidized rate of N10,000 per 25 litres to alleviate transportation challenges during the festive season.
This was disclosed by Hussein Ejibunu, the National Coordinator of the service’s Operation Whirlwind, during a press briefing held on Saturday at the Customs Training College in Ikeja, Lagos State.
Ejibunu revealed that the petrol, valued at N27.5 million, was confiscated during anti-smuggling operations in Lagos and Ogun states.
He assured the public that all legal procedures, including a court condemnation order, have been completed to facilitate the auction.
“The operation has been ongoing since May 27, 2024, and has yielded positive results. The CGC [Comptroller-General of Customs] has urged the operatives to sustain this tempo until the activities of these economic saboteurs are stamped out of this country,” Ejibunu stated.
In line with the directive from Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller-General of Customs, the auction aims to address transportation hardships typically experienced during the holiday period.
“On this note, the CGC has directed Auctions of the seized product to members of the public at the rate of N10,000 per 25 litres. This will ease the transportation hardship during this festive period,” Ejibunu added.
The NCS operation, launched to curb economic sabotage, has been highly effective, with the seizure of significant volumes of PMS among other contraband items. The ongoing initiative underscores the service’s commitment to combating smuggling and supporting the economy.
The subsidized sale of petrol is expected to bring much-needed relief to commuters and transport operators, ensuring smoother travel and logistics during the festive celebrations.