Smugglers loses N55.5 million at Seme border

Esther Komolafe

Petroleum smugglers have lost a total amount of fifty-five million, eight hundred and three thousand Naira (55,803,000) through auction to the people of Seme axis from January to September 2022.

The Controller of Seme command, Comptroller Bello Mohammed Jibo, revealed this to PM News during an interview session in his office.

Comptroller Jibo said if the smugglers will not relent they should expect more bitter experiences from his officers and men who have vowed to render the act unattractive.

The Comptroller described the activities of the smugglers as being unpatriotic and greedy.

He said the smugglers are sabotaging the efforts of the Nigerian government paying subsidies for petroleum from limited funds to ease the tension among Nigerians.

He said that the seized PMS product is to be auctioned immediately according to the law because it falls under perishable items which are not meant to be kept.

“The law, even says that the offenders of such items should be charged to court but unfortunately, they ran away “ Jibo noted.

He made it known that the product has been auctioned to the public according to the committee’s order, noting that the total figures seized so far is 609 260 liters equivalent to 19 tankers of 33000 loads each.

In the same vein, the Comptroller sadly informed PMNews on how Nigeria has been recording low revenue income from the same axis as a result of double taxation.

He said that the importers now prefer to transact business through another axis apart from SEME because of the double payment of duties, at the entry point from Benin.

According to Comptroller Jibo, barely a few months after the opening of the border Benin Republic imposed a levy on goods transiting through their country to Nigeria.

“The practice is contrary to the ECOWAS law. This particular action doesn’t promote trade but rather kills it.

“We have had a series of meetings with our colleagues from other parts but the meetings have not yielded desired result yet we are hoping that the Benin Republic government will regard the ECOWAS law and act accordingly as soon as possible so as to safe trade that is affecting greatly”

“They are supposed to collect charges from goods in transit but it has not been so, what they now collect is even much higher than what the Nigerian government collects as a duty, the act that was meant to promote trade is now killing it.

“This practice of Benin Republic has drastically reduced the records of goods coming in from the axis and this has affected revenue figures into Nigeria’s purse.

“The double taxation has made the importers channel their goods through a cheaper route because it is being regarded as unnecessary extortion which normally ought not to be so.

“The importers now take their goods through where they can pay normal charges and be able to make some profits and still be in business unlike what it entails at the moment in SEME border axis.

“The others who are yet to locate their bearings have now taken to smuggling of PMS product which is sold at 1000 Naira per liter in Benin but being purchased at 169 Naira in Nigeria as the order of the day.”

He said unfortunately most of them are being caught and regrettably parting with a huge sum of money.