By Winifred Ngozi Orji
Harboursandport.com: kwara State, Nigeria - February 17, 2025: The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS through its Operation Whirlwind operation in Kwara State, intercepted over 53,000 litres of smuggled Premium Motor Spirit, PMS with a total Duty Paid Value, DPV of N53 million.
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| Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi |
During a press briefing at the Kwara Command on Monday, February 17, 2025, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, referred to 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" Adeniyi stated.
According to him, the global price of petroleum as of February 10, 2025, was N1,184.83 per litre in Nigeria, while it was N1,680.32 per litre in Benin and N2,030.89 per litre in Cameroon. "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." He added.
Adeniyi said, "Through intelligence-driven operations and routine patrols, the Service's operatives have successfully intercepted smuggled fuel across Gure road, Bankubu, llesha Baruba axis, and Kayama forest.
Providing details on the seizures from January 14th to February 11th, Adeniyi mentioned that on January 14th, the Service seized 94 jerry cans (2,350 litres) of PMS at Gure Road, with a value of N2.35 million.
"On February 5th, 162 jerry cans (4,050 litres) of PMS were intercepted at Kayama forest in a Nissan Pickup (MHAS56FD), driven by Nafiu Salami (now under administrative bail), with a DPV of N4.05 million. February 11: 33,000-litre tanker truck intercepted along Siya Buriya road, valued at N33 milion"
The NCS boss highlighted that the changing tactics of smugglers necessitate more than just traditional enforcement methods. With Operation Whirlwind, Customs has implemented a technology-driven strategy that integrates real-time intelligence, advanced surveillance systems, and strategic community engagement to effectively track and disrupt smuggling networks.
“Smuggling networks are becoming more sophisticated, but so are we. With the deployment of digital monitoring tools, enhanced risk management frameworks, and proactive inteligence-sharing, we are closing in on economic saboteurs" Adeniyi assured.
The NCS Boss, however, 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.
His words: "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."
He further warned that "those involved in fuel smuggling should reconsider their actions, as the full weight of the law will be deployed against them"
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