The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Saturday sold approximately 20,000 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, to the public at an auction price of ₦630 per liter in Ibadan, Oyo State. The sale followed the seizure of the product from smugglers by the NCS’s Operation Whirlwind in the Oyo/Osun axis.
The sale, conducted at Afoo Filling Station in the Masfala area of Ibadan, marked the distribution of part of a seized consignment that included a tanker and 30 kegs, each containing 25 liters of petrol. In total, the confiscated fuel amounted to 30,750 liters, with a duty-paid value of ₦42.75 million.
Flagging off the sale, Comptroller Hussein Ejibunu, National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, explained that the seized items had remained unclaimed, prompting the NCS to secure a court condemnation order through the legal adviser’s office to enable their auction.
Comptroller Ejibunu highlighted the directive from the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashiru Adeniyi, to sell the product to the public. The move aims to ensure public access to the commodity, particularly during the festive season.
“This initiative is in line with government policy to ensure that citizens benefit from recovered goods. It also underscores the government’s commitment to delivering essential resources to Nigerians promptly,” Ejibunu stated.
The Customs’ efforts to combat smuggling and redistribute seized items were also emphasized, with Ejibunu reaffirming their resolve to uphold Nigeria’s economic security by preventing illegal cross-border activities.
This sale comes as part of a broader effort to manage the redistribution of seized goods in a manner that supports public welfare and aligns with government directives.
