The Nigerian government has sealed several filling stations and imposed fines on three marketers accused of receiving stolen fuel, in a bid to curb the illicit fuel trade.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) took the action following an operation conducted by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in August, which resulted in the seizure of 466,000 litres of petrol, 23 vehicles, and the arrest of seven suspects.

According to a recent report, the NCS intercepted seven petrol trucks, closed 12 retail outlets, and confiscated 466,000 litres of petrol in August.

The operation, tagged “Operation Whirlwind,” aimed to combat the smuggling of petroleum products, especially in border states.

The sealed filling stations were handed over to the regulatory body for further action, while the NMDPRA imposed fines on three marketers who distributed the stolen fuel.

This development comes amidst the increase in the price of petrol across the country.

Petroleum marketers have raised concerns over the pricing of the product from the Dangote Refinery. According to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the prices of the product range from N950 to N1,019 per litre in the north.

Marketers are urging the NNPC to review the prices, arguing that locally refined fuel should not be more expensive than imported fuel.