Petrol Smuggling Through Land Borders Drops Sharply – Customs CG
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has said smuggling of petroleum products through Nigeria’s land borders has reduced significantly following intensified enforcement by the Service.
Adeniyi disclosed this during a weekend meeting between the NCS and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), led by its Executive Director, Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure, Ogbogu Ukoha.
He said the Customs Service remains aligned with ongoing reforms in the petroleum regulatory space and will continue to provide technical input, operational feedback and border management expertise to support the implementation of new guidelines being developed by the NMDPRA.
According to him, both agencies are strengthening collaboration to curb the diversion of petroleum products meant for domestic consumption and to protect Nigeria’s energy security.
He reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to deepening inter-agency cooperation, particularly in ensuring that products intended for local use are not diverted to neighbouring countries.
Adeniyi noted that the partnership has already produced measurable results, especially through Operation Whirlwind, which he described as a model for intelligence sharing, joint enforcement and coordinated field operations.
He also commended the Authority’s efforts to harmonise legacy processes with the Petroleum Industry Act, stressing that clear and efficient export-point procedures are critical as Nigeria moves from being a net importer to an emerging exporter of petroleum products.
“We welcome every initiative that strengthens energy security and ensures that the gains made in reducing cross-border diversion are not reversed. Our shared responsibility is to protect national interest, support legitimate trade and maintain a transparent system that stakeholders can rely on,” he said, adding that Customs would continue to work closely with sister agencies.
In his remarks, Ukoha said the NMDPRA has enjoyed a long-standing and productive working relationship with the Customs Service, describing Operation Whirlwind as the peak of that collaboration.
He said both agencies had deployed personnel, shared intelligence, and jointly monitored petroleum product movements along border corridors, leading to a sharp decline in cross-border diversion.
Ukoha said the visit was to brief the Customs CG on newly developed guidelines for the designation of export points for petroleum products, as Nigeria’s refining capacity expands.
He added that the Authority is engaging key institutions, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Nigerian Navy, to ensure the guidelines reflect operational realities before full implementation.
He recalled previous joint operations and engagements with Customs leadership, including the launch of Operation Whirlwind in Yola, which reaffirmed both agencies’ commitment to curbing diversion and securing the domestic supply chain.
Ukoha noted that while enforcement has been critical in reducing irregular movements, the removal of fuel subsidy has also significantly reduced the economic incentive for cross-border smuggling.
He assured that the Authority would continue to work closely with Customs to sustain the gains and ensure petroleum exports are properly regulated without undermining Nigeria’s energy security.
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