The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), through its Operation Whirlwind task force, has intercepted three fuel tankers carrying a total of 154,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) along the Badagry corridor, thwarting an attempted diversion of petroleum products.
The National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Abubakar Aliyu, disclosed this during a handover exercise and public auction held at the Customs Training College in Ikeja, Lagos.
Aliyu said the seizures were the result of sustained intelligence-driven operations across key border routes, including the Owode Apa, Seme, and Badagry axis, which have historically been vulnerable to fuel smuggling and diversion.
He revealed that the intercepted tankers were loaded with 60,000 litres, 49,000 litres, and 45,000 litres of PMS respectively, in violation of established regulatory procedures governing the transportation and distribution of petroleum products.
“Their interception was not accidental; it was the outcome of intelligence-driven operations, vigilance, and the uncompromising resolve of Operation Whirlwind to safeguard Nigeria’s economic and energy security,” Aliyu said.
He further disclosed that within the past nine weeks, operatives intensified surveillance across critical border communities, leading to the seizure of an additional 1,630 jerry-cans of PMS, each containing 25 litres, amounting to 40,750 litres with a Duty Paid Value of ₦40.75 million.
According to him, the movement and distribution of petroleum products are strictly regulated to prevent diversion, smuggling, hoarding, and other forms of economic sabotage.
“The border corridors of Owode Apa, Seme, and Badagry remain sensitive economic arteries. These routes have historically been exploited for illegal cross-border petroleum movements. However, under our watch, there will be no safe haven for economic saboteurs,” he warned.
In line with inter-agency collaboration, the intercepted tankers were handed over to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority for further regulatory action.
A representative of the Authority, Grace Dauda, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its vigilance and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to ensuring petroleum products designated for domestic use are not diverted outside the country.
She noted that strong collaboration among regulatory and enforcement agencies is essential in safeguarding Nigeria’s energy security and preventing economic losses linked to fuel smuggling.
To promote transparency and accountability, the seized PMS stored in jerry-cans was auctioned to members of the public in accordance with existing regulations, demonstrating the Service’s commitment to proper asset management and lawful disposal procedures.
The latest interception highlights the Nigeria Customs Service’s ongoing efforts to strengthen border security and combat fuel smuggling, which continues to pose a threat to the nation’s economy and energy stability.