The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Kebbi State Command has publicly auctioned 66,500 litres of seized Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle cross-border smuggling networks.
The auction and handover exercise took place on Thursday in Birnin Kebbi. Customs Area Controller Muhammad Ibrahim confirmed the sale, stating the fuel was confiscated during anti-smuggling operations under Operation Whirlwind. This specialized enforcement initiative targets the illegal diversion and cross-border trafficking of petroleum products, which authorities describe as acts of economic sabotage threatening national resources.
Further details were provided by the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Aliyu Abubakar. He disclosed that separate seizures included 864 jerrycans of petrol, equivalent to approximately 21,500 litres, intercepted at key smuggling routes in Bagudo, Kamba, and along Jega Road. Additionally, a tanker carrying about 45,000 litres of allegedly diverted PMS was seized in the Jega area. That tanker has been transferred to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for comprehensive investigation.
A representative of the NMDPRA, Grace Dauda, attended the handover and warned that the diversion of petroleum products from official channels disrupts national supply stability and invites severe regulatory sanctions.
The NCS emphasized that the public auction adhered to all legal and procedural requirements. The exercise underscores a coordinated multi-agency approach to protect the nation’s hydrocarbon resources and ensure product availability in the official market. Authorities reaffirmed that operations will continue across border communities to curb smuggling activities that undermine the economy and fuel security.
