The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced plans to auction 15,325 litres of seized Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, at ₦400 per litre to mitigate transportation challenges during the festive season.
Hussein Ejibunu, National Coordinator of the service’s Operation Whirlwind, disclosed this during a press briefing on Saturday at the Customs Training College in Ikeja, Lagos.
He revealed that the seized petrol, valued at ₦27.5 million, was confiscated during operations conducted across Lagos and Ogun states.
According to Ejibunu, Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi has approved the auction, pricing the fuel at ₦10,000 per 25-litre container.
“All legal and procedural requirements, including a court condemnation order, have been completed to facilitate the auction process,” Ejibunu stated.
This initiative is part of Operation Whirlwind, launched on May 27, 2024, to combat the activities of economic saboteurs.
Ejibunu emphasized that the operation has yielded significant results and will continue until illegal activities affecting the economy are eradicated.
“In line with the Comptroller-General’s directive, the seized petrol will be auctioned to the public at an affordable rate to ease transportation difficulties during the festive period,” he added.
The measure is expected to provide some relief to Nigerians grappling with high transportation costs during the holiday season while ensuring that the confiscated petrol is put to beneficial use.