The Nigeria Customs Service has stepped up enforcement against fuel smuggling in the North Central region, overseeing the public auction of 43,750 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, intercepted along border routes between Niger and Kwara states.
The operation, carried out under a special enforcement initiative, targeted illegal fuel movements across multiple identified corridors. Authorities disclosed that the seizure followed intelligence-driven surveillance aimed at disrupting networks involved in the diversion of petroleum products outside official distribution channels.
According to officials, the confiscated volume comprised 1,510 jerry cans of 25 litres each and 30 drums with a capacity of 200 litres, bringing the total to 43,750 litres. The products were valued at approximately 43.75 million naira in duty-paid terms.
Enforcement activities were concentrated across several locations considered high risk for smuggling, including border communities and transit points where illicit fuel movements have been persistent. These areas have increasingly come under scrutiny as authorities intensify monitoring of supply leakages.
Speaking during the exercise in Ilorin, the National Coordinator of the operation, Deputy Comptroller Abubakar Aliyu, said the intervention reflects a broader strategy to safeguard domestic fuel supply and protect government revenue. He described fuel smuggling as a major economic threat that distorts market stability, reduces available supply, and contributes to rising costs for consumers.
Aliyu further noted that such activities also create security risks by strengthening criminal networks operating along the border regions. He reiterated that enforcement teams remain committed to identifying and dismantling these groups through sustained operations and intelligence coordination.
He acknowledged the role of the Office of the National Security Adviser, led by Nuhu Ribadu, for providing strategic oversight and intelligence support, as well as the technical input of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority. He also credited the leadership of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for backing enforcement efforts.
The public auction of the seized petrol, according to Customs officials, is part of measures to ensure transparency and accountability in the handling of confiscated goods. Authorities also used the occasion to warn individuals involved in illegal fuel trading that enforcement actions will be sustained.
In a related remark, the Acting Customs Area Controller for Kwara Command, Deputy Comptroller Najeem Ogundeyi, highlighted the importance of interagency collaboration, noting that recent successes have been driven by improved intelligence sharing and coordinated field operations.
The Customs Service has called on residents in border communities to support ongoing efforts by providing timely information, stressing that public cooperation remains critical in curbing smuggling activities.
The latest development underscores a broader push by authorities to tighten control over petroleum distribution channels and limit cross-border diversion, as Nigeria continues to grapple with supply challenges and price pressures in the downstream sector.