The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the auction of over 39,000 litres of confiscated petrol at a discounted rate of N400 per litre — a significant move following the interception of a major smuggling operation across the Lagos-Ogun border axis.
Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, authorised the immediate sale of the seized fuel at N10,000 per 25-litre jerrycan, amounting to N400 per litre. The confiscated fuel, intercepted by the task force Operation Whirlwind, totaled 1,577 jerrycans — or 39,425 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
The operation also resulted in the seizure of eight vehicles and petrol valued at over N63 million, with smuggling attempts thwarted in border communities including Ilaro, Imeko, Badagry, Owode, and Ajilete.
“This is a significant victory in the battle against economic sabotage,” said Assistant Comptroller General Hussein Ejibunu, National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, during a press briefing in Lagos. “There is no safe haven for smugglers or economic saboteurs. We will continue to disrupt their activities and reduce them to the barest minimum.”
Ejibunu added that within just one year, the task force has achieved “significant milestones across all zones” due to the “discipline and resilience of the operatives.”
The auctioned petrol and impounded vehicles carry a duty-paid value of N63.4 million, broken down into N39.4 million worth of fuel and N24 million worth of vehicles.
ACG Charles Orbih, Zonal Coordinator for Zone “A”, praised the operatives’ efforts:
“This landmark achievement reflects the determination and unwavering commitment of our officers to safeguarding Nigeria’s economic and national security.”
Authorities confirmed that the products were being smuggled across the border to the Benin Republic, underscoring continued threats to Nigeria’s petroleum sector and foreign exchange.
Ejibunu also thanked supporting agencies, including the Office of the Attorney General, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for their collaboration in combating fuel smuggling.
Meanwhile, Dangote Refinery and NNPC have also slashed fuel prices slightly amid ongoing competition in the local market. Dangote recently reduced its depot prices to between N875 and N905 per litre, depending on location.
“The fight against illegal fuel smuggling is far from over, but this operation sends a clear message to perpetrators,” Ejibunu concluded.
