Customs Seizes ₦63.4m Worth of Petrol in Lagos/Ogun Axis


The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded another significant victory in its ongoing crackdown on the smuggling of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol. Acting on the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, psc (+), operatives of Operation Whirlwind made massive seizures across several key border communities in Lagos and Ogun States.

The operation, which has been hailed by multiple government agencies for its effectiveness, culminated in the interception of 1,577 jerrycans of PMS  each containing 25 liters amounting to 39,425 liters of fuel. The seizure, which was made in notorious smuggling flashpoints including Ilaro, Imeko, Badagry, Owode, and Ajilete, was carried out following intelligence reports indicating plans to illegally transport the products into neighboring Benin Republic.

Speaking at a press briefing held at the Customs Training College, Ikeja, Lagos, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) HK Ejibunu, who represented the Comptroller-General, praised the courage and commitment of the operatives who executed the operation.

"This is a milestone achievement," ACG Ejibunu stated. "In just one year of intensified operations, we have disrupted several fuel smuggling syndicates. Today’s seizures are valued at ₦39,425,000 for the PMS alone, with the vehicles and other means of conveyance valued at ₦24,000,000, bringing the total value to ₦63,425,000."


Just a week earlier, a similar operation in Yola, Adamawa State, had led to the seizure and auctioning of over 46,000 liters of PMS.

As part of the Customs’ commitment to public welfare, the Comptroller-General has ordered that the seized fuel be auctioned immediately to Nigerian citizens at a subsidized rate of ₦10,000 per 25-liter jerrycan, offering some relief in the face of rising fuel costs.

ACG Ejibunu emphasized that the Customs Service would remain unrelenting in its mission to rid the country of economic saboteurs.

"There is no safe haven for smugglers. We will continue to disrupt their networks, intercept their goods, and ensure justice is served," he said.

The Comptroller-General also extended his 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, whose collaboration he said was instrumental in achieving the operation's success.

The Nigeria Customs Service reaffirmed its resolve to safeguard the nation’s economy and protect the interests of law-abiding citizens

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