By Nkechi Eze
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified its crackdown on fuel smuggling with a major interception under Operation Whirlwind, seizing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) valued at over ₦63 million in the Lagos-Ogun corridor.
At a press briefing held on Friday, 30 May 2025, at the Customs Training College in Ikeja, Lagos, the National Coordinator of the operation, Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) Hussein Ejibunu, described the development as a decisive step against economic sabotage.
“Our message is clear, smugglers and saboteurs have no hiding place. We are committed to dismantling their networks and reducing their activities to the barest minimum,” he asserted.
The intercepted consignment included 1,577 jerrycans of PMS, each 25 litres, amounting to a total of 39,425 litres. Additionally, eight vehicles used to convey the smuggled fuel were also seized in hotspots such as Ilaro, Imeko, Badagry, Owode, and Ajilete, along the border with Benin Republic.
The duty-paid value of the recovered fuel was put at ₦39,425,000, while the vehicles were valued at ₦24,000,000, bringing the cumulative worth of the seizure to ₦63,425,000.
ACG Ejibunu commended the dedication and professionalism of operatives involved in the operation, noting the significant achievements recorded within the past year. “We have made remarkable progress across all zones due to the discipline, commitment, and resilience of our officers,” he said.
To prevent hoarding and ensure public benefit, Ejibunu announced that the seized fuel will be auctioned immediately at a subsidised rate of ₦10,000 per jerrycan, following the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.
He also expressed appreciation to strategic partners such as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the Office of the Attorney General for their continuous support.
In his remarks, Zonal Coordinator for Zone ‘A’, ACG Charles Orbih, lauded the outcome of Operation Whirlwind. “This success clearly demonstrates our unrelenting commitment to protecting Nigeria’s economic and national interests,” he stated.
