The Nigeria Customs Service says petrol smuggling is still happening even though the government has removed the fuel subsidy.
Also, smugglers continue to take petrol across Nigeria’s borders because prices are still cheaper in Nigeria compared to neighbouring countries.
Price differences encourage illegal trade
Customs Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi explained that petrol sells for between ₦880 and ₦950 per litre in Nigeria. But in places like Cameroon, Niger, and the Benin Republic, it can go as high as ₦1,600 to ₦2,000 per litre.
Additionally, this big price gap makes it tempting for smugglers to keep taking fuel out of Nigeria to sell at higher prices.
Some neighbouring countries see small price drops
Adeniyi noted that while fuel prices have started to fall slightly in some neighbouring countries, down to around ₦850 to ₦900 per litre in Cameroon, smuggling still remains profitable due to ongoing price differences.
New customs operation targets smugglers
To tackle the problem, the Customs Service has launched a new operation called “Whirlwind.” This special campaign aims to stop the illegal movement of petrol across Nigeria’s borders.
Need for tighter border control
The Customs boss warned that unless smuggling is curbed, the country will continue losing valuable fuel meant for local use. He urged for more support in stopping the illegal trade.
Despite the end of the fuel subsidy, Nigeria still faces the challenge of smuggling. Customs says price gaps between Nigeria and its neighbours keep the trade profitable. A special crackdown is now in place to reduce these losses.