The comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Hameed Ali who appeared before a house of representatives committee on budget-defence on Tuesday November 12, revealed that Nigeria has been subsidising fuel for neighbouring countries.
Hameed revealed this when asked why the Customs Service stopped the supply of fuel to border communities. According to him, the subsidized fuel is taken to neighbouring countries where it is sold at exorbitant amounts.
“They get approval to discharge the product legitimately in the day but at night, siphon it out. This has been going on for a long time,” he said. “Now, we have restricted supply to 20km before the border. Let’s monitor the outflow. We want to know where the outflow is coming from. “Petrol is sold at N395/litre but they buy from Nigeria at less than N145/litre.
“With this border closure, it has jumped to N600/litre. Meaning, we are the one subsidising petrol for neighbouring countries. So, marketers are making a kill. It’s attractive to take petrol out and sell there.” The Nigeria Customs Service were however directed by the House Committee to lift the fuel supply ban on border communities as it has left Nigerians residing in such communities in a sad state.
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