TheCable

The Nigerian Navy stationed in Badagry, Lagos state, has warned retailers of premium motor spirit (PMS) against smuggling the product to neighbouring countries.

NAN reports that Adams Aliu, commanding officer of the forward operating base (FOB) handed down the warning at a meeting with the Petroleum Dealers Association (PDA) in Badagry.

Aliu said he would make arrests if necessary in efforts to curtail the smuggling of PMS better known as petrol.

“If the federal government makes a decision that petrol that is meant for the Nigerian market should be sold in Nigeria, I cannot pretend when someone is carrying it across waterways to neighbouring countries,” the commanding officer said.

“I have to react and ask why they are carrying petrol in a jerry can and where they get it and where they are taking it. This is where you come in as the petroleum dealers in Badagry.

“As I am, I can’t get petrol here unless I get to filling stations within Badagry. So, it is you that Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) supplies petrol to and you are the ones that can explain how the product gets to all these neighbouring countries.

“The opposite of this is that when they smuggle petrol to neighbouring countries, they will bring rice into the country.

“It is now necessary for me to check the boundary, why there is such movement and make the arrest if necessary.”

On his part, Ganiyu Adelani, chairman of PDA, said his association would assist the navy in checking smuggling.

“There was a time when some filling stations had issues with naval operatives but you had not assumed office then,” Adelani said.

“We are very grateful to you for inviting us to this meeting today and we promise to assist you in checking smuggling on waterways.”