The Forward Operating Base (FOB) of the Nigerian Navy, Badagry, on Saturday, warned petroleum dealers in the town over smuggling of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), known as petrol, to neighbouring countries.
Capt. Adams Aliu, the Commanding Officer, FOB, gave the warning at a stakeholders’ meeting with the Petroleum Dealers Association, Badagry Chapter, at the Base office.
“If the Federal Government makes a decision that petrol that is meant for Nigeria market should be sold in Nigeria, I cannot pretend when someone is carrying it across waterways to neighbouring countries.
“I have to react and ask why they are carrying petrol in jerrycan and where they get it and where they are taking it to.
“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, 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 on me to check the boundary, why there is such movement and make the arrest if necessary,” he said.
The commanding officer said that smuggling of petroleum products outside the country was having adverse effects on the economy of the nation, urging marketers to shun the practice.
