FG SUSPENDS PMS SUPPLY TO BORDER STATIONS

The supply of petroleum products to filling stations located within 20 kilometers to the nation’s borders with other countries has been suspended.

The approval according to a circular from the Nigeria Customs Service was given by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Alli.

The suspension of the supply of petroleum products became imperative following the closure of Nigeria’s borders to neighbouring countries and to check the proliferation of petroleum products.
The circular a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent was dated November 6, 2019.

The Deputy Comptroller of Customs in charge of Enforcement, Investigation, and Inspectorate, Victor Dimka, signed the circular with reference number EII/2019/circular no 29.
The circular was addressed to all Zonal Coordinators; Operations Swift Response; Sector Coordinators 1,2,3 and 4; Customs Area Comptrollers; Coordinators of CGC Strike Force Teams; Coordinator Headquarters Strike Force Team and all Marine Command.

It reads in part, “The Comptroller-General of Customs has directed that henceforth, no petroleum products no matter the tank size is permitted to be discharged in any filling station within 20 kilometers to the borders.

“Consequently, you are all to ensure strict and immediate compliance, please.”
When contacted on the authenticity of the circular, the Public Relations Officer, NCS, Mr Joseph

Attah, told our correspondent in a telephone interview that it was addressed to field operatives to enable them to enforce the decision of the Federal Government.

He said, “That is the directive. You know Customs have been complaining about the proliferation of petroleum stations very closed to the borderline which has continued to make it difficult to check petroleum smuggling.

“What you are seeing is the position of the government and that is it the statutory mandate of customs to enforce the position of the government and that is why that directive has been communicated out to the field operatives to ensure compliance”.