An alleged illegal Automated Gas Oil (AGO) bunker with 400,000-litre capacity has been uncovered at a private residence in the Lekki area of Lagos.
The seized product is said to be worth N89,000,000; while the estimated value of the storage facilities should they contain AGO to full capacity is put at N500 million.
The Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft made the discovery, following intelligence report received by the Base that a gas tanker was seen loading at the Elegushi Beach.
The personnel of NNS Beecroft also arrested five suspects at No. 3, Silverbird Road, Ilasun Lekki, including the suspected leader of the syndicate, Ahmed Ariyo; and four others in a private apartment where they allegedly carried out their illegal activities.
Handing over the suspects and recovered products to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Commander, NNS Beecroft, Commodore Rafiu Taye Oladejo, said the suspects operated an unregistered company known as Ahmed Ariyo & Sons Nigeria Limited, in a residential neighbourhood.
He said Ariyo, two sisters and other suspects were running an illegal family business without caring about the safety of others.
“It’s worrisome that an apartment of this nature is serving as illegal fuel depot, undermining the economic and security implications on lives and properties should there be a fire disaster.
“Eight tanks of 50,000 storage capacity each were kept in the compound, with cumulatively 57,000 litres of AGO in them during confiscation; while the truck had 7,000 litres and the white TM bus had 30 jerry-cans of 50 litres totalling 1,500 litres of AGO, with an estimated market value of N89,000,000.
“In addition, there were 400 jerry-cans and 13 drums of product carefully stocked inside another TM bus, as well as in the compound.
“On Tuesday afternoon, we got intelligence that a white bus was loading petroleum products at Elegushi Beach.
“We dispatched our Quick Response Team to the location. Before they could get there, both the boat and the bus had disappeared.
“Our further surveillance of the white bus led to the discovery of this private apartment of an illegal fuel depot,” he said.
The estimated worth of all the storage facilities should they contain AGO to full capacity is put at N500 million.
Asked if there were other collaborators in the crime, Oladejo said, “It cannot be a one-man show. However, we are not relenting to tackle oil theft in all ramifications in consonance with the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla’s directives to stamp oil theft out of the maritime environment.”
An unbothered Ariyo told reporters that he started the business five years ago and secured a N50m loan from a bank.
It was learnt that the business was not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and has allegedly been getting supplies from workers in oil vessels popularly called “Remain on Board” (RB).
Also, he bought products from depots with waybills that permitted him to load in Apapa.
The 47-year-old Ariyo said, “Since I started about five years ago, I deal only on AGO (diesel) and retail the product to individuals within Jakande, Agunji, Igbo-Efon, Ajah and its environs.
“I bought four of the tanks from a filling station for N1.5m each after the station discarded same during renovation.”
