Reps ask FG to lift ban on petrol supply to stations at border communities

The house of representatives has asked the federal government to lift the ban on the supply of petroleum products to stations within 20 kilometres of the country’s land borders.

The lawmakers passed the resolutions during the plenary session on Tuesday following the adoption of a motion presented at the chamber by Adegboyega Isiaka from Ogun state.

The legislators asked the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and other relevant government agencies to allow duly registered petrol stations within the borders communities to be supplied with petroleum products.

In 2019, the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari directed that petroleum products should not be supplied to petrol stations within 20 kilometres of the nation’s borders.

The directive was issued at the time to stem the smuggling of petrol to neighbouring countries like Niger Republic, Benin Republic, Cameroon, Chad and Togo.

In his inaugural speech on May 29, President Bola Tinubu said the petrol subsidy regime was over.

Following the removal of the subsidy, petrol prices doubled across fuel stations in Benin Republic and Cameroon.

While moving the motion, Isiaka said the ban should be lifted because the petrol subsidy has been removed.

The lawmaker said the continued enforcement of the ban is causing hardships to millions of Nigerians living and conducting businesses within the affected areas who have to travel kilometres to get the products or pay an extra amount to secure the commodity for their daily needs.

“The ban has continued to impact negatively on the socio-economic activities in the affected areas,” he said.

The lawmakers voted in support of the motion when it was subjected to a voice vote by Tajudeen Abbas, the speaker of the house.

The house mandated the committee on customs and excise, when constituted, to ensure the implementation of the resolution.