The Independent Petrol Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has shut about 1,800 petrol stations belonging to its members operating in the North-east part of the country following a row with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) over smuggling of petroleum products.
IPMAN chairman for Adamawa and Taraba states, Dahiru Buba, said the petrol stations ceased operations after the NCS impounded tanker trucks and closed several petrol stations on suspicion of smuggling petrol to neighbouring Cameroon.
He stated that under “Operation Whirlwind,” the NCS initially impounded some tanker trucks belonging to IPMAN members but released them after the association protested.
Bubba said more trucks were, however, subsequently seized, and several fuel stations were shut down, prompting fuel station operators to close their outlets en-masse in protest.
“This is our business, and we cannot be quiet when our members are treated this way,” he stated.
However, spokesperson of the NCS for Adamawa and Taraba, Mangsi Lazarus, stated that the tanker trucks were seized because they were being used to smuggle petrol.
Following the closure of the petrol stations, motorists in Yola, the capital of Adamawa, have resorted to patronising black market traders who are selling a litre of petrol for N1,400.
