By Nkechi Eze
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) have moved to deepen their strategic collaboration to halt the diversion of petroleum products meant for domestic consumption and to strengthen Nigeria’s energy security architecture, as the country gradually positions itself as an emerging exporter of refined products.
This renewed resolve was underscored on Tuesday, 9 December 2025, during a high-level engagement between the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and the Executive Director, Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure at the NMDPRA, Mr. Ogbugo Ukoha, at the Customs House, Maitama, Abuja.
At the meeting, the Customs boss reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to robust inter-agency cooperation, stressing that safeguarding Nigeria’s domestic fuel supply remains a core national priority. He noted that the partnership between the two agencies had already delivered tangible results, particularly through Operation Whirlwind, which he described as a benchmark initiative for intelligence sharing, joint enforcement and coordinated field operations across border corridors.
Adeniyi stated that the Nigeria Customs Service is fully aligned with ongoing reforms in the petroleum regulatory sector and would continue to offer technical input, operational feedback and border management expertise to support the implementation of new export point guidelines being developed by the NMDPRA. He commended the Authority for its efforts to harmonise legacy processes with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, describing clear and efficient export point procedures as critical at a time when Nigeria is transitioning from a net importer to an exporter of petroleum products.
“We welcome every initiative that strengthens energy security and ensures that the gains made in reducing cross-border diversion are not reversed. Our shared responsibility is to protect national interest, support legitimate trade and maintain a transparent system that stakeholders can rely on. We will continue to work closely with sister agencies to achieve these outcomes,” the Comptroller-General said.
In his remarks, the NMDPRA Executive Director, Mr. Ukoha, described the relationship between the Authority and the Nigeria Customs Service as longstanding and productive, noting that Operation Whirlwind represents the high point of that collaboration. He explained that the joint operation involved the deployment of personnel, intelligence exchange and coordinated monitoring of petroleum product movements along border corridors, resulting in a significant reduction in cross-border diversion.
Ukoha said the visit was aimed at briefing the Customs leadership on newly developed guidelines for the designation of export points for petroleum products, in line with Nigeria’s expanding refining capacity. According to him, the NMDPRA is consulting widely with key institutions, including the Nigeria Customs Service, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and the Nigerian Navy, to ensure that the guidelines are practical, enforceable and reflective of operational realities before they are rolled out.
He recalled several joint field operations and strategic engagements with the Customs leadership, including the launch of Operation Whirlwind in Yola, where both agencies publicly reinforced their commitment to curbing diversion and securing the domestic supply chain.
While enforcement efforts have played a decisive role in reducing irregular movements of petroleum products, Ukoha noted that the removal of fuel subsidy has also significantly weakened the economic incentives that previously fuelled cross-border smuggling. He assured that the NMDPRA would sustain close collaboration with the Customs Service to consolidate the gains already recorded and to ensure that petroleum exports are properly regulated without exposing the country to energy security risks.
The meeting reinforced a shared determination by both agencies to close remaining loopholes, protect Nigeria’s fuel supply and balance the twin objectives of energy security and legitimate petroleum exports as the sector undergoes far-reaching reforms.
