The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, has taken custody of five tankers seized by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, over the alleged diversion of Automotive Gas Oil, AGO, commonly known as diesel.
The spokesperson for the NCS’s Operation Whirlwind, Hussaini Abdullahi disclosed this in a statement issued in Lagos on Friday.
He said the tankers were handed over to the NMDPRA for further investigation.
In his remarks, the National Coordinator of the operation, Deputy Comptroller Abubakar Aliyu said the trucks were intercepted at about 11 pm on July 6 following credible intelligence.
Aliyu said preliminary findings from the investigation into the diesel raised concerns about possible irregularities and regulatory violations, prompting the handover to the NMDPRA for further investigation and appropriate administrative action.
He explained that the transfer of the seized tankers to the NMDPRA followed a directive from the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi.
DAILY POST reports that the retail price of diesel ranges between N1,920 and N1,980 per litre in Abuja and its environs.
Diesel diversion: NMDPRA takes custody of five tankers seized by Customs