The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has taken swift action against fuel thieves, sealing filling stations and fining at least three marketers for allegedly receiving stolen fuels. This crackdown follows a series of operations conducted by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in August 2024.
Key Achievements of the NCS Operations:
- Interception of Stolen Fuel: Seven petrol trucks were intercepted, and 466,000 litres of petrol were seized.
- Sealing of Retail Outlets: 12 retail outlets were sealed, and three marketers were fined by the NMDPRA.
- Prosecution of Suspects: Seven suspects were prosecuted after an investigation into the matter.
The NCS also intensified its “Operation Whirlwind” to combat the smuggling of petroleum products, especially in border states. The operation led to the seizure of 23 vehicles and other contraband items.
Additional Seizures by the NCS includes: 3,083 bags of foreign rice, 170,000 litres of petrol, 1,014 parcels of cannabis sativa, 23 vehicles. The total Duty Paid Value of these seizures amounts to N975,066,791.65.
In August 2024, the NCS generated a total of N293.3 billion from import and excise duties, with N277.5 billion collected from import duties and N15.8 billion from excise duties. This revenue reflects the NCS’s ongoing efforts to boost the government’s income through effective monitoring and enforcement of customs regulations
