The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has sold 14,000 litres of seized petrol to residents in Ibadan, Oyo State, at ₦600 per litre — a move that sparked excitement among locals amid soaring fuel prices nationwide.
The petrol, with an estimated duty-paid value of about ₦14 million, was auctioned at a filling station owned by Afoo Multi Ventures Limited in the Muslim area of Ibadan. The public sale was supervised by the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) Kola Oladeji, according to Tribune.
Oladeji explained that the petrol was confiscated after Customs operatives intercepted a tanker with registration number DGB 722 XR along the Igbeti–Ogbomoso axis following credible intelligence.
He emphasized that the exercise was part of efforts to curb fuel smuggling and protect the integrity of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.
“This decision is not just about seizing fuel or its quantity; it is about protecting our economy, ensuring transparency in the downstream sector, and defending ordinary Nigerians from fuel scarcity, hoarding, and price manipulation,”
— ACG Kola Oladeji
Oladeji added that, under the leadership of Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Operation Whirlwind would continue to target networks engaged in illegal fuel diversion and smuggling.
He also commended the Office of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for providing intelligence support and urged Nigerians to assist by sharing credible information on smuggling activities.
Residents who bought fuel during the auction expressed joy, describing the initiative as a relief amid persistent economic hardship.
A motorist who identified himself as Femi, said:
“When fuel prices soared, we didn’t increase transport fares. Now that I bought fuel at a lower price, it’s my turn to benefit.”
Another buyer, Sumaila Ariyo, a tricycle operator, praised the Customs Service and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for easing the financial burden on the public.
“Before now, we used to buy fuel at ₦870 to ₦875 per litre. This ₦600 price is a big help,” he said.
The station manager, Sunkanmi, confirmed that fuel was selling for ₦900 per litre before Customs officers arrived and adjusted the price to ₦600 for the public auction.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has adjusted the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, across the country.
In Lagos, NNPC retail outlets were dispensing petrol at ₦922 per litre, while in Abuja, prices rose from ₦905 to ₦955. A state-by-state breakdown showed that Kwara State recorded the highest price at ₦975 per litre, followed by Gombe and Sokoto at ₦965.
The latest development comes as Nigerians continue to grapple with fluctuating fuel prices despite recent interventions by Dangote Refinery and government agencies.
Source: Legit.ng
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