The Customs Comptroller for Adamawa and Taraba States, Garba Bashir, has launched an aggressive campaign against smuggling activities in the region, particularly targeting the illegal exportation of petroleum products. In just four months, the command has successfully generated ₦195,719,930 million as duty-paid value from the seizure of smuggled petroleum products.
Speaking to journalists in Yola, Bashir emphasized the critical importance of combating smuggling, describing it as a major threat to both the national economy and the well-being of the Nigerian people. He highlighted the severe negative impact that the illegal trade in petroleum products has had on the country, depriving citizens of essential resources and contributing to economic instability.
“This is a critical period of our national life, and all hands must be on deck to support the government. We cannot afford to get it wrong at this point in time,” Bashir remarked.
He further explained that smuggling undermines efforts to ensure adequate domestic fuel supply, which is a key component of the economic reforms spearheaded by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. Despite the government’s reforms aimed at stabilizing the energy sector, Bashir noted that smugglers, driven by profit motives, are increasingly using complex methods to bypass legal channels and export petroleum products illegally to neighboring countries.
“These illicit activities threaten our domestic fuel supply chain and pose a direct challenge to national security,” he said, stressing that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) remains unwavering in its mission to protect the economy and safeguard the integrity of the nation’s borders.
Bashir also pointed out that smuggled products, meant for domestic consumption, are being systematically diverted through illegal routes and waterways. The NCS, according to Bashir, is determined to thwart these operations by deploying additional resources and adopting stricter measures.
In addition to the petroleum products, the command also seized various vehicles, including tankers and trailers, carrying illegal goods such as elephant tusks and alcoholic beverages. Notably, this is the first time that the Adamawa and Taraba command is prosecuting suspects at the Federal High Court in Yola.
The Customs Comptroller reiterated the NCS’s commitment to safeguarding the nation’s economy and ensuring that those involved in these illegal activities face the full weight of the law.
