The Nigeria Customs Service seized 1,650 jerrycans of petrol worth N40.7m in Lagos and handed them over to NMDPRA. The operation targets cross-border fuel smuggling along Badagry, Seme, and Owode routes.
Customs Seizes N40.7m Fuel, Hands Over to NMDPRA
By Juliet Ezeh
The Nigeria Customs Service has handed over 1,650 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), valued at N40.7m, to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority for further investigation, the agency confirmed on Friday.
The seizures were made across multiple locations in Lagos State, including Badagry, Owode, Seme, and other critical border corridors, over a nine-week period. Addressing journalists at the handover ceremony held at the Customs Training College in Ikeja, Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, explained that the operation was intelligence-driven, part of the ongoing Operation Whirlwind.
Three tankers intercepted as part of the crackdown were carrying 154,000 litres of PMS, transported along notorious smuggling routes such as Adodo, Oode Apa, Ajilete, Idjaun, Ilaro, Idiroko, and Imeko axes.
Adeniyi emphasized that illegal petroleum diversion undermines government policy, distorts market stability, and deprives Nigeria of vital revenue. “These routes have historically been exploited for cross-border smuggling, but under our watch, there will be no safe haven for economic sabotage,” he warned.
The handover to NMDPRA highlights inter-agency collaboration, ensuring regulatory compliance in the downstream sector. While Customs enforces border control and anti-smuggling mandates, NMDPRA oversees domestic distribution and ensures petroleum products remain within local markets.
Grace Dauda, representing the regulatory agency, stressed that petroleum produced in Nigeria should be consumed locally and urged the public to assist in curbing illegal fuel exports.
Operation Whirlwind, launched in 2024, targets cross-border smuggling of PMS and other contraband threatening Nigeria’s economic security. The recent seizures demonstrate the continued commitment of Customs and NMDPRA to safeguard energy resources and maintain market integrity.
Juliet Ezeh is the founder and chief reporter at Westbridge Reporters with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers crime, industry, policy, and social developments, delivering timely and accurate reporting.