6 July 2011

CONFLICTING reports of casualties have said that between six and 15 Cameroon petrol smugglers have died after a truck loaded with illegal fuel exploded in the northern town of Dembo, which borders Nigeria.

The fire happened at 2200 local time (2100 GMT), just after the vehicle had crossed over the border. An eyewitness told the BBC he had seen the charred remains of six bodies, including the driver.

State radio, however, said 15 people were killed in the incident, saying all the dead were Cameroonian, apart from one Nigerian.

The report did not say what caused the blast in the Benue division of Cameroon's North region, but local government sources told Reuters a passenger on the vehicle had lit a cigarette.

Authorities say such incidents are common in Cameroon's three northern regions of Adamawa, North and Far North, because Nigeria's cheap, subsidized fuel known locally as "zoua-zoua" or "funge" can fetch three times the price in Cameroon than it is sold for in its West African neighbour.

Security forces succeeded in eliminating the illicit trade in petrol between Cameroon and Nigeria in English-speaking South-west and North-west regions in the mid-1990s, but failed in the northern part of the country, because of porous borders.

At least 230 people were killed when a fuel tanker over- turned and exploded in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo a year ago. Nigeria heavily subsidizes fuel, making it profitable for smugglers to take it into Cameroon.

It is not clear what caused the explosion, but such accidents are not uncommon. Last month, Cameroon banned all night time public transport on roads that are often not tarred to curb accidents caused by heavy drinking.

The BBC's Randy Joe Sa'ah in the capital, Yaounde, said Nigerian fuel, popularly known as "zoa-zoa," is sold every- where across the northern region of the country. It is cheaper and more readily available in the regional capital Garoua than legal fuel refined in southern Cameroon, he said.

"The illegal trade is flourishing and attracts many of the region's unemployed young people." Haman Oumar, the government officer in charge of the North's commerce, said many children drop out of school to go into the business.

Some young people travel across the border on their bicycles to collect canisters of petrol. The District Officer for Benue, Zang III, said the incident in Dembo, 35km (about 20 miles) north-west of Garoua, clearly illustrates why the war against fuel smuggling must be won.

He launched a campaign to stop the trade last November. But the smugglers say the government relies on the illicit business for income, because custom duties are still paid on the imports, even though they are illegal.

http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/201107080987.html

I suspected that lots of Nigerian petroleum products are being smuggled abroad, but I guess this is hard evidence.

I'm sure Nigeria's neighbors are happy to enjoy the subsidized oil as well 

As if this news would make other thieves give up this type of business

ekt_bear:

Authorities say such incidents are common in Cameroon's three northern regions of Adamawa, North and Far North, because Nigeria's cheap, subsidized fuel known locally as "zoua-zoua" or "funge" [size=14pt]can fetch three times the price[/size] in Cameroon than it is sold for in its West African neighbour.

Would you give up this business? buy for one price, sell for 3X as soon as you cross a border?

That is a lot of money being made

Call me a coward but I wont take such stewpid risk all for paper

what has God's blessing-oil resources, not caused Nigerians and her neighbors

they should probably just steal the chadian oil. the pipeline runs straight thorugh cameroon.

This is what you and me are funding with the taxes we pay: Oil subsidies so our dear brothers from Cameroun, Chad, Niger, Republic of Benin, Togo, Ghana, Mali, Congo and so on can enjoy our generosity.

WE NEED TO END THE SUBSIDY TODAY, SO WE CAN START EXPORTING PETROLEUM PRODUCTS LEGALLY INTO THESE COUNTRIES AND STOP THE IMPORTS OURSELVES.

THIS IS THE ONLY REASON A SANE BUSINESSMAN WOULD INVEST IN BUILDING A REFINERY!!!

Plus this is what funds Boko Haram!!!!

djustice:

This is what you and me are funding with the taxes we pay: Oil subsidies so our dear brothers from Cameroun, Chad, Niger, Republic of Benin, Togo, Ghana, Mali, Congo and so on can enjoy our generosity.

Nigeria is the richest country on earth, so can afford to subsidize the oil consumption of its neighbors

I think someone mentioned $4 billion or so in petrol subsidies spent by Nigeria per year. Would anyone be surprised if it turned out that 50% of this was smuggled abroad?

we love each other.

so cameroon has a benue division as well?

that place is almost a parallel nigeria that speaks french.