The Sokoto/Zamfara Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, has auctioned seized 55,164 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), in line with extant laws and the approval of the Comptroller General of Customs, Mr Bashir Adeniyi.
The PMS, popularly known as petrol was auctioned to the general public at a token of N180 per liter.
The Area Controller, Comptroller Kamal Muhammed, who disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the Command headquarters in Sokoto, put the Duty Paid Value of the seized products at about N39 million.
The Area Controller explained that the price difference of petrol between Nigeria and other West African countries made smuggling of the product a profitable venture for the smugglers.
“Even with the subsidy removal, Nigeria remains among the countries with the cheapest PMS.
“PMS is sold at an average of N701.99 per liter in Nigeria, while in Cameroon, it is sold at N2,061.55, in Mali at N2,128.20, and in the Republic of Benin at N1,672.05,” he stated.
Muhammed added that the smuggling of petrol has continued to create artificial scarcity in some parts of the country.
Comptroller Muhammed however assured that the Service would continue to protect Nigeria’s economic interests with dedication, justice, and integrity.
