Between January 14 and February 11 2025, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) had intercepted over 53,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N53 million, recording major seizures under Operation Whirlwind in Kwara State.
According to NCS, this intensified effort is to curb the smuggling of PMS and crack down on smugglers at border areas.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, during a press briefing at the Kwara Command on Monday, February 17, 2025, described fuel smuggling as a “direct threat to Nigeria’s economic stability and national security.”
“Despite the removal of fuel subsidies, we continue to witness the exploitation of price disparities between Nigeria and neighbouring countries. This illegal trade not only undermines government policies but also affects ordinary Nigerians by inflating fuel costs and creating artificial scarcity,” he stated.
Adeniyi noted that the Global Prices of petroleum, as of February 10, 2025, was sold at ₦1,184.83 per litre in Nigeria, compared to ₦1,680.32 per litre in Benin and ₦2,030.89 per litre in Cameroon.
He added, “The significant price difference has encouraged large-scale smuggling, creating a black market economy that deprives Nigeria of critical resources.
“This is not just about revenue loss; it is about economic sabotage. Every litre smuggled out of Nigeria is a litre that could have powered local industries, facilitated transportation, and supported small businesses. Through intelligence-driven operations and routine patrols, the Service’s operatives have successfully intercepted smuggled fuel across Gure road, Bankubu, Ilesha Baruba axis, and Kayama forest,” he said.
Unveiling the statistics on the seizures between January 14th to February 11th, CGC Adeniyi stated that the Service had, on 14th January seized 94 jerry cans (2,350 litres) of PMS at Gure road, valued at ₦2.35 million.
“On February 5th, 162 jerry cans (4,050 litres) of PMS were intercepted at Kayama forest in a Nissan Pickup (MHA556FD), driven by Nafiu Salami (now under administrative bail), with a DPV of ₦4.05 million. February 11: 33,000-litre tanker truck intercepted along Siya Buriya road, valued at ₦33 million.”
Through Operation Whirlwind, the NCS boss said Customs has adopted a technology-driven strategy, combining real-time intelligence, advanced surveillance systems, and strategic community engagement to track and disrupt smuggling networks.
Adeniyi pledged to sustain the momentum of its anti-smuggling operations nationwide, urging border communities, fuel marketers, and stakeholders to support the fight against illegal fuel trade.
“Smuggling networks are becoming more sophisticated, but so are we. With the deployment of digital monitoring tools, enhanced risk management frameworks, and proactive intelligence-sharing, we are closing in on economic saboteurs.
“We will continue to collaborate with relevant agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), to ensure compliance and protect Nigeria’s economic interests.
“Those involved in fuel smuggling should reconsider their actions, as the full weight of the law will be deployed against them,” CGC Adeniyi warned.
