Diesel diversion: NMDPRA takes custody of five tankers seized by Customs

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has taken custody of five tankers that were seized by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) due to suspected diversion of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel. This development was announced by the NCS spokesperson, Hussaini Abdullahi, in a statement issued in Lagos on Friday.

Abdullahi revealed that the tankers were handed over to the NMDPRA for further investigation after they were intercepted at around 11 pm on July 6, following credible intelligence. Deputy Comptroller Abubakar Aliyu of the NCS explained that preliminary findings from the investigation raised concerns about potential irregularities and regulatory violations, leading to the transfer of the seized tankers to the NMDPRA for further scrutiny and appropriate administrative action.

The NMDPRA's involvement follows a directive from the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi. It is worth noting that the retail price of diesel in Abuja and its surroundings currently ranges between N1,920 and N1,980 per litre.

Brief written by urgent.news from Daily Post Nigeria's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.