The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, on Friday handed over 1,650 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) valued at N40.7 million to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for further investigation.
Speaking at the handover ceremony at the Customs Training College in Ikeja, Adeniyi said the fuel was seized at various locations across Lagos State, including Badagry, Owode, Seme and other border communities.
Represented by the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller-General Abubakar Aliyu, the Customs boss explained that the seizures were made over the past nine weeks following intensified surveillance and enforcement operations.
“Within nine weeks, our operatives strengthened monitoring across key border communities. A total of 1,650 jerrycans of 25 litres each were intercepted along known smuggling corridors such as Adodo, Seme, Owode Apa, Ajilete, Idjaun, Ilaro, Badagry, Idiroko and Imeko. The total duty-paid value of the PMS is N40.7 million,” he said.
He added that three tankers used in transporting the product were found carrying 60,000, 45,000 and 49,000 litres respectively, amounting to 154,000 litres of PMS.
Adeniyi attributed the success of the operation to intelligence-driven strategies and the vigilance of Operation Whirlwind, describing the effort as critical to protecting Nigeria’s economy and energy security.
He noted that the movement and distribution of petroleum products are regulated by strict frameworks and standard operating procedures aimed at preventing diversion, smuggling, hoarding and economic sabotage.
“These items violated the established Standard Operating Procedures of Operation Whirlwind,” he said, warning that such infractions undermine government policies, distort market stability and deprive the country of vital revenue.
He further described border routes such as Owode, Seme and Badagry as sensitive economic corridors that have historically been exploited for illegal cross-border fuel smuggling. “Under our watch, there will be no safe haven for economic saboteurs,” he stated.
Adeniyi said the handover to NMDPRA underscores strong inter-agency collaboration. “While Customs enforces border control and anti-smuggling laws, NMDPRA oversees distribution and compliance within the downstream sector. This partnership ensures due process, transparency and regulatory integrity,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of NMDPRA, Mrs Grace Dauda reiterated the agency’s mandate to ensure petroleum products meant for domestic use are not diverted. She lamented attempts by some individuals to smuggle fuel out of the country and urged the public to support efforts to curb economic sabotage.
Operation Whirlwind is a special enforcement initiative launched by the Nigeria Customs Service in 2024 to tackle cross-border smuggling of petroleum products, particularly PMS, and other contraband threatening Nigeria’s economic stability.