Despite the removal of fuel subsidy and subsequent hike in the pump price of the Premium Motor Spirit(PMS) aimed at curtailing smuggling of the product outside the country, indications emerge that the scourge still rages while the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA) struggles with confusion on how to contend with the ugly situation
By Our Correspondent
The office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), is at a loss on how to contend with the rising trend of smuggling in the Premium MSotor Spirit (PMS), Tentacle can authoritatively reveal. But the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) insisted it was on top of the situation. Sources linked with the ONSA whispered to the medium that since early in the year, the unabated increase in fuel smuggling despite the subsidy removal and subsequent hike in the price of the product, has remained a huge concern to the Federal Government.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while giving his taking over speech from late former President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2023, had announced to the suffering citizens that his regime would no longer fund subsidy on the PMS even when it was included in the 2023 Appropriation Act till June of that year. The sudden announcement of subsidy removal by President Tinubu was to trigger a hike in the price of fuel from N200 to N1,300 in some parts of the country.
However, due to the entrance of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, the price of fuel has been fluctuating between N870 and N1,200 in different parts of the country.
Tinubu government had attributed fuel subsidy removal to smuggling in fuel due to its cheap price in the country. According to the government at the time, a hike in the price of fuel could quickly reduce its smuggling to neighboring countries and help the country achieve efficiency in the oil sector.
That intention was to be defeated as fuel smuggling has been raging endlessly based on Tentacle’s investigation and statistics from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) which daily struggle with fuel smugglers.
Last year when it was clear to the government that the economy was bleeding as a result of fuel smuggling, the Customs management, despite accusations of multiplicity of units and duplication of duties which compelled it to disband the ”Comptroller General’s Strike Force Team’, had created another special unit which it charged with the responsibility of combating fuel smuggling across the country. The special unit was code named, ”Operation Whirlwind”. The anti-fuel smuggling unit was allocated to an Assistant Comptroller General (ACG), Hussein Ejibunu, as its pioneer head. Unfortunately, the ACG Ejibunu-led Operation Whirlwind performed below expectation in the fight against fuel smuggling.
Tentacle’s investigation revealed that the ACG Ejibunu was allegedly struggling between his impending retirement concerns and his official assignment, and was bogged down by the pressures which resulted in the escalation of fuel smuggling, especially through the Northern Regions’ land borders. The Operation Whirlwind was reportedly domiciled in the ONSA.
Further investigation by this medium revealed that in the past one month plus since ACG Ejibunu left the NCS in retirement, the ONSA has been ruffled by the escalation of fuel smuggling. The development, credible sources hinted, had become a frustrating menace to Mallam Nuhu Rebadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), which allegedly compelled him to demand explanation from the Customs management as to why fuel smugglers were running roughshod on the nation’s economy.
Presidency sources also hinted that increasing fuel smuggling is orchestrated by lack of effective policing of the land borders by security agencies due to lack of adequate logistics and human errors and undoing.
To resuscitate the Customs Operation Whirlwind, and also reassure Ribadu that it has not failed in the job of fighting fuel smugglers, the NCS management, last month, appointed another ACG to pioneer the affairs of the unit. He is the ACG Finance and Administration, IK Oladeji. Oladeji is said to be a reputable strong hand in anti-smuggling. He was a Customs Area Controller (CAC) in charge of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, Lagos where he became a terror to smugglers.
But Oladeji was to be removed from the FOU ‘A’ Command in hazy circumference despite his commendable performance when it was alleged that he fell out of favour with the management over sundry issues.
The NCS had also, directly or indirectly, confirmed how the fuel smuggling menace had ruffled the ONSA. On Friday, October 24, 2025, in a sheer grandstanding posture that has attracted public suspicion, the NCS and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency (NMDPRA) displayed publicly the sealing of a petrol station located at Owode Apa in the Badagry area of Lagos.
While sealing the Adeola Ade Filling Station in company with the NMDPRA, ACG Oladeji confirmed to the media how worried the NSA had become over increasing fuel smuggling. Though unable to respond effectively to the question on why fuel smuggling was on the increase despite subsidy removal and hike in the price of the product, Oladeji disclosed that he had assured Ribadu that he would contain the scourge within a period of one month. “I assured the NSA that within one month I would reduce fuel smuggling to barest minimum ”, Oladeji said.
The ACG Oladeji who was the Deputy Commander of the Operation Whirlwind under the ACG Ejibunu, said the unit has locked up all the borders against fuel smuggling.
He also disclosed that a total of 140 jerrycans of PMS were arrested at the Adeola Ade Filling Station, while its owner was also arrested and granted administrative bail by Customs. The fuel was to be smuggled to neighboring Benin Republic.
Speaking further, ACG Oladeji said, “It is with a deep sense of duty and commitment to National service that I stand before you today as directed by the Comptroller-General Of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR,PhD,FNIPR,DSM,PSC(+}, to formally hand over the sealed filling station identified as Adeola Ade PLC, located along Owode Apa Road Badagry, Lagos State, to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority for further regulatory action and sanction.
“This facility was sealed by operatives of Operation Whirlwind on the 4th of October, 2025, following credible intelligence and a thorough investigation which revealed infractions inconsistent with the standards and regulations governing petroleum retail operations in Nigeria. Our operatives, acting within the ambit of the law and guided by our mandate to sanitize the downstream sector, executed the sealing in a professional and transparent manner.
“Operation Whirlwind remains resolute in its mission to rid the sector of sharp practices, protect consumers, and uphold the integrity of our national energy infrastructure. However, we recognize that enforcement is a shared responsibility. As such, we now hand over this facility to the NMDPRA, the statutory body empowered to investigate, sanction, and ensure compliance with industry regulations. We trust that the Authority will carry out its mandate with fairness, diligence, and in accordance with due process. Let this handover serve as a clear message to all operators in the sector: non-compliance will not be tolerated, and collaboration among agencies will continue to strengthen enforcement.
“It is pertinent to note, the critical roles played by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in strategic intelligence guidance, and overarching policy support under the leadership of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu (mni) for his strong commitment to addressing security challenges in Nigeria, the Comptroller-General Of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi Bashir MFR,PhD,FNIPR,DSM,P8c(+), and his entire management team for their unwavering support for this operation, we remain hopeful for continued collaboration and sustained commitment to its success. Equally commendable is the NMDPRA, whose technical expertise and regulatory framework have ensured that our actions align with best practices while addressing the systemic challenges within the petroleum supply chain, also the dedicated personnel of Operation Whirlwind and patriotic Nigerians who continue to stand with us in the pursuit of a resolute mission to dismantle smuggling networks and bring economic saboteurs to justice”.
