Smugglers in premium motor spirit (PMS) suffers another setback as officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in company with those of the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) auction 20,500 litres of seized fuel to the public in Lagos
By Innocent Chukwu
The Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has sounded stern warning against smuggling in premium motor spirit (PMS), insisting that illegal fuel diversions will not be tolerated in the country. The warning was given on Monday, July 13, 2026 in Lagos during the public auction of 20,500 litres of fuel seized by the operatives of the Operation Whirlwind, a special arm of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) created to combat fuel smuggling in the country.
The NCS auctioned the PMS seized from suspected smugglers, reaffirming its commitment to combating the illegal diversion and cross-border smuggling of petroleum products.
The public auction, held at the premises of Customs Training College, Ikeja, Lagos, was conducted under the supervision of the National Coordinator of the Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller (DC) of Customs, Abubakar Lucky Aliu, on the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
Speaking during the exercise, Aliu said the auction was aimed at ensuring transparency while returning the seized petroleum products into the legitimate domestic supply chain for the benefit of Nigerians.
He disclosed that the 20,500 litres of PMS, contained in 820 jerry-cans of 25 litres each, were intercepted through intelligence-led operations along major smuggling corridors in Imeko, Ilara, Ilaro, Idiroko and Seme Border axis. Five vehicles used to convey the products were also seized, bringing the combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the petroleum products and vehicles to about ₦38 million.
Aliu added that the Operation Whirlwind is a strategic initiative of the NCS established to curb the illegal exportation of petroleum products, safeguard Nigeria’s energy security, protect government revenue and ensure that fuel meant for domestic consumption remains available within the country.
He warned that petroleum smuggling continues to undermine the nation’s economy by disrupting local fuel supply, encouraging artificial scarcity, depriving government of revenue and financing criminal activities.
The representative of the Customs CGC, Aliu, also assured citizens that the Service would continue to deploy intelligence, surveillance and enforcement strategies to dismantle smuggling syndicates operating along the nation’s borders.
He commended the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the NMDPRA, partner security agencies and officers of Operation Whirlwind for their sustained collaboration in tackling petroleum smuggling.
Speaking earlier at the event, the representative of the NMDPRA, Mrs. Grace Dauda, reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to its partnership with the ONSA and the NCS through the Operation Whirlwind Team.
She stated that while the Authority remained committed to creating an enabling environment for legitimate business, operators in the downstream petroleum sector must strictly comply with regulatory requirements governing the movement of petroleum products.
According to Dauda, marketers are free to transport products to any part of the country for lawful commercial purposes, provided every consignment is properly manifested from the point of loading to its final destination.
She stressed that proper documentation enables regulators to monitor the movement of petroleum products nationwide, prevent diversion into illegal channels and ensure adequate supply for households, agriculture, fisheries and small and medium-scale industries.
Dauda urged Nigerians to support the fight against fuel smuggling by reporting suspicious movements of petroleum products to NMDPRA offices located across the 36 states or to other relevant security agencies.
She further advised operators to comply fully with the existing regulatory framework to avoid losses resulting from the interception of illegally diverted products.
The NMDPRA representative commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, the Chief Executive of the NMDPRA and the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind for strengthening inter-agency collaboration in protecting Nigeria’s petroleum resources and promoting legitimate business activities.
Both agencies reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying intelligence gathering, surveillance and enforcement operations to eliminate petroleum smuggling, protect the nation’s energy security and safeguard Nigeria’s economy.
