The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has formally handed over three seized fuel tankers containing approximately 159,000 litres of petrol to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for further regulatory and legal action. The handover, conducted on Friday in Lagos, underscores a coordinated effort to combat large-scale fuel smuggling operations targeting Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.
The seizure was executed under “Operation Whirlwind,” a specialized NCS initiative targeting economic sabotage and illicit trade. Deputy Comptroller Abubakar Aliyu, National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, confirmed the tankers—bearing registration numbers T21019LA, T9827LA, and T3546LA—were intercepted along known smuggling corridors such as Aso-Odo, Seme, Owode-Apa, and Badagry. These routes are historically exploited for cross-border diversion of petroleum products.
“The interception was intelligence-driven and reflects our uncompromising resolve to safeguard Nigeria’s economic and energy security,” Aliyu stated. He emphasized that petroleum transportation is strictly governed by regulatory frameworks and Standard Operating Procedures designed to prevent diversion. He warned that under his command, smuggling would no longer be a safe venture for economic saboteurs.
Beyond the tankers, the operation also netted 1,630 jerry-cans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). Aliyu announced these would be publicly auctioned to ensure transparency, with a total Duty Paid Value estimated at N40.75 million. The funds from such auctions typically revert to government coffers, mitigating revenue loss from illegal activities.
Aliyu highlighted that fuel smuggling severely undermines government policy, distorts market stability, and deprives the nation of critical revenue. He noted that corridors like Owode-Apa, Seme, and Badagry remain sensitive economic arteries due to their proximity to borders and porous controls. The success of the operation, he said, demonstrated effective inter-agency collaboration aligned with established operational protocols.
He commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, for strategic leadership in anti-smuggling campaigns and urged public support for enforcement agencies, stressing that national development depends on collective vigilance.
Receiving the consignment, Grace Dauda of NMDPRA reaffirmed the agency’s mandate to ensure domestically allocated petroleum products are not illegally exported. “It is unfortunate that some businessmen attempt to smuggle petroleum products out of the country,” she remarked, urging citizens to collaborate with government agencies to end such economic sabotage.
The handover signifies a procedural transfer where NMDPRA will initiate its own due process, potentially involving forfeiture proceedings, fines, and prosecution of implicated parties, in accordance with the Petroleum Industry Act. Both agencies stressed that the operation is part of a broader strategy to secure the downstream sector, protect national revenue, and stabilize local fuel supply. Continued intelligence sharing and operational synergy between customs and midstream regulators are expected to intensify in the coming months.
