The Federal Government has begun deploying Department of State Services (DSS) operatives to accompany tankers carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, to filling stations. The aim is to stop the diversion and smuggling of the product. Over 120 DSS officers have already been assigned to follow fuel tankers to their retail outlets in Abuja, and additional security agencies are being mobilised for nationwide coverage.
On Thursday, the government announced the closure of more than 270 filling stations for violations such as hoarding and selling above the approved price. The disclosures were made in Abuja during a live television programme by Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).
Kyari explained the measures being taken to curb diversion and cross‑border smuggling of PMS: “There are extensive government security interventions. In Abuja alone, we have over 120 DSS officers following every truck to fuel stations, and we are expanding this across the country. We are ensuring that other security agencies also track these trucks to confirm they reach the stations and are not sold en route or smuggled across borders.” He added that the current scarcity of PMS is not linked to the upcoming general elections but to the illicit export of fuel, sometimes in marine containers. “We have evidence that some of our customers are taking fuel to other countries, and the appropriate security agencies will address this. The 66‑67 million litres you see include cross‑border smuggling volumes, so any shortfall abroad directly impacts the domestic market,” Kyari said.
Ahmed, speaking on sanctions imposed on downstream operators who violated regulations, confirmed that over 270 filling stations and seven depots have been closed. “Because we have strong control in major cities such as Port Harcourt, Lagos, Ibadan, and Abuja, marketers often shift to rural areas where petrol can be sold at higher prices. It is our responsibility as a regulator to enforce strict monitoring. A few weeks ago we shut down seven depots due to inflated ex‑depot prices, and we have also closed hundreds of retail outlets for non‑compliance,” he said.
He cautioned that while closures provide some relief, they also risk reducing fuel availability: “Nigeria is a vast country with many challenges. If we continue to shut down outlets, we may create another flashpoint because fewer stations mean less petrol to serve the nation. We must conduct internal assessments to weigh the risks and benefits of each action.”
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