The Nigeria Customs Service has officially transferred 1,650 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), valued at ₦40.7 million, to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for further investigation.
The handover took place at the Customs Training College in Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday. The seized fuel was intercepted at multiple points along major routes in Lagos State, including Badagry, Owode, Seme, and other border areas.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, represented by Deputy Comptroller General Abubakar Aliyu, explained that the seizures were part of a nine-week intelligence-driven operation conducted by Operation Whirlwind, a special tactical unit set up in 2024 to tackle cross-border petroleum smuggling.
“Over the past nine weeks, our teams intensified monitoring along critical border corridors. This operation led to the interception of 1,630 jerrycans of 25 litres each across notorious smuggling routes such as Adodo, Seme, Oode Apa, Ajilete, Idjaun, Ilaro, Badagry, Idiroko, and Imeko,” Adeniyi said.
He also revealed that three tankers used in smuggling attempts were carrying 60,000 litres, 45,000 litres, and 49,000 litres of PMS, bringing the total volume intercepted to 154,000 litres. Adeniyi stressed that the seizures were the result of careful planning and strict enforcement, not accidental discovery.
“These violations distort market stability, undermine government policies, and deprive the nation of essential revenue,” he said. “We are committed to ensuring that these border corridors, historically prone to smuggling, will no longer serve as safe havens for economic sabotage.”
The handover to NMDPRA highlights inter-agency collaboration aimed at regulating petroleum distribution, ensuring compliance with local laws, and safeguarding Nigeria’s energy security.
Speaking at the event, NMDPRA representative Grace Dauda emphasized the importance of local consumption of petroleum products. “It is concerning that some individuals attempt to divert these resources abroad. Cooperation from the public is crucial in curbing economic sabotage,” she said.
Operation Whirlwind continues to be a key instrument in Nigeria’s fight against illegal fuel movement, reinforcing the country’s efforts to maintain transparency, compliance, and market stability in the petroleum sector.
