Nigeria’s battle against fuel smuggling took centre stage again on Friday as the Nigeria Customs Service moved to protect the country’s fragile petrol supply chain. In a decisive enforcement step, Customs handed over 1,650 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) valued at ₦40.7m to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for further investigation.
The action sends a strong signal at a time when authorities are tightening controls around petroleum distribution. With fuel pricing and supply still sensitive issues for ordinary Nigerians, regulators say blocking illegal cross-border diversion is critical to stabilising the downstream sector.
Seizures Across Notorious Border Routes
Speaking during the handover ceremony at the Customs Training College in Ikeja, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the seizures were made within nine weeks across strategic border communities. The affected routes include Badagry, Owode, Seme, Idiroko and Imeko corridors historically linked to fuel smuggling.
Represented by the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller-General Abubakar Aliyu, Adeniyi stated, “In the space of nine weeks, our operatives intensified surveillance across critical border communities. A total of 1,630 jerrycans of 25 litres each were intercepted. The total duty paid value is ₦40.7m.”
Tankers Intercepted, 154,000 Litres Recovered
Beyond the jerrycans, Customs also impounded three tankers used as means of conveyance. The vehicles were carrying 60,000, 45,000 and 49,000 litres respectively bringing the total seized volume to 154,000 litres of PMS.
According to Adeniyi, the interceptions were intelligence-driven and executed under Operation Whirlwind, a special enforcement initiative launched in 2024 to combat cross-border smuggling of petroleum products. “Under our watch, there will be no safe haven for economic sabotage,” he warned, emphasising that petroleum transportation is governed by clear operational procedures meant to prevent diversion and revenue loss.
Inter-Agency Collaboration to Protect Energy Security
Customs formally transferred the seized fuel to NMDPRA in line with inter-agency collaboration protocols. While Customs enforces border control and anti-smuggling mandates, the regulator oversees downstream compliance and distribution standards.
Responding on behalf of NMDPRA, Mrs Grace Dauda said the authority remains committed to ensuring petroleum products refined or distributed within Nigeria are consumed locally. “It is unfortunate that some businessmen attempt to smuggle the product out of the country,” she said, urging citizens to support efforts to safeguard Nigeria’s energy security.
As enforcement tightens along the borders, the message from authorities is clear: fuel smuggling will not be tolerated, and protecting Nigeria’s petroleum supply remains a national priority.