- Safiu Kehinde
The Nigeria Custom Service (NCS) under “Operation Whirlwind” has recorded the seizure of N181.6 million worth of petroleum products in eight weeks between Nigeria and Cameroun borders.
ACG Kolapo Oladeji, National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, disclosed this at a news conference on Thursday in Yola.
The seizures, according to Oladeji, were made across various smuggling flashpoints of Adamawa in 55 different operations.
“This operation is geared towards energy and food security to foster economic growth in line with the core mandates of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu.
“In line with these mandates, the Operation Whirlwind Zone ‘D’ had repositioned all its machineries across the area of its responsibilities and ensuring that the border became airtight,” he said.
The Customs boss warned the smugglers to stop such acts and solicited the continued support and cooperation of all stakeholders for the socioeconomic development of the state.
“We will ensure that the supply chains of these economic wreckers are truncated in accordance with enabling laws.
“This fight has no doubt helped in transforming the nation’s economy and strengthening security of our borders,” he said.
He further said that the seized petroleum products would be auctioned to public.
In her remark, Mrs Abidemi Adewumi-Aluko, Assistant Legal Adviser of the Attorney General of the Federation, described the auction as a symbol of reclaiming resources to ensure that the benefit of petroleum remained in Nigeria.
She said that such offences attracted life imprisonment because they threatened national security.
She urged smugglers to stop such acts.