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The House of Representatives has requested that the Federal Government (FG) lift the ban on the supply of petroleum products to stations within 20 kilometres of Nigeria’s land borders.
Following the adoption of a motion presented at the chamber by Adegboyega Isiaka from Ogun state, the lower legislative chamber passed the resolutions during the plenary session on Tuesday, July 11, 2023.
The legislators asked the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and other relevant government agencies to permit duly registered petrol stations within the borders communities to be supplied with petroleum products.
In 2019, the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari had directed that petroleum products not be supplied to petrol stations within 20 kilometres of the nation’s borders in a bid to stem the smuggling of petrol to neighbouring countries like Benin Republic, Niger Republic, Chad, Cameroon, and Togo.
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 Ogun lawmaker stated that the continued enforcement of the ban is causing hardships to millions of Nigerians living and conducting businesses within the affected areas, as they have to travel kilometres to get the products or pay an extra amount to secure the commodity for their daily needs.
The lawmakers voted in support of the motion when it was subjected to a voice vote by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas.
The house mandated the Committee on Customs and Excise when constituted, to ensure the implementation of the resolution.
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