Border closure: Customs boss suspends supply of petrol to border communities

Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, has ordered that petroleum products should no longer be supplied to filling stations within 20 kilometers to all Nigerian borders with their neighbouring countries.

A copy of the directive dated November 6, and signed Chidi A, the deputy-controller General on behalf of his boss, obtained by Businessday reads “The Comptroller-general of Customs has directed that henceforth no petroleum product no matter the tank size is permitted to be discharged in any filling station within 20 kilometers to the Border.”

“Consequently, you are directed to ensure strict and immediate compliance, please” the directive said.

Recall that the former group managing director of the NNPC, Maikanti Baru, had in April this year in a meeting with Ali said that smuggling of petroleum products across the Nigeria’s borders has led to loss of revenue and subverted government’s efforts to ensure adequate supply of petroleum products in all parts of the country.

The NNPC boss said that 16 states, having amongst them 61 Local Government Areas with border communities, account for 2,201 registered fuel stations with 149.9million litres storage capacity. it further said that eight states with coastal border communities spread across 24 LGAS account for 866 registered fuel outlets with combined petrol tank capacity of 73.4million litres

Baru further said the activities of smugglers had led to an observed abnormal surge in the evacuation of petrol from less than 35 million litres per day to more than 60 million litres per day which is in sharp contrast with established national consumption pattern.

Meanwhile, the directive did not provide alternatives avenue for Nigerians living in border communities to access petroleum products.