By Uche Mbah
The Nigeria Customs service has ordered the closure of petrol and gas filling stations near the Nigerian land borders.
In a memo to the various border commands and signed by Chidi A, the Deputy Comptroller General Enforcement, Inspection, and Investigation Customs, and dated November 6, the service said that no petrol tanker is allowed to discharge fuel within 20 km of the land borders.
The circular, titled ‘EII/2019/Circular No. 027 Suspension of Petroleum Products Supply To Filling Stations Within 20 Kilometers To All Borders’, was addressed to “all zonal coordinators, operation swift response, sector coordinator 1,2,3 & 4, customs area controllers, coordinators CGC strike force teams, coordinator, headquarters strike force teams and all marine commands.
Extracts from the memo reads: “The comptroller general of Customs has directed that henceforth no petroleum products no matter the tank size is permitted to be discharged in any filling station within 20 kilometers to the border.
“Consequently, you are to ensure strict and immediate compliance please.”
Nigeria has closed its land borders for economic purposes, but the act has elicited a lot of criticisms, particularly as it has started hurting the neighboring countries. Reports has indicated that the closure is less strictly adhered to than in the south.
It is also worrisome why the land borders were closed, while the sea and air borders apparently remain open.
Controller of customs Hamid Ali recently announced that rice farmers are making more sales since the closure and many cannot meet demands.
