The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi has declared a total war on smugglers, labelling them as enemies of Nigeria’s development.
Adeniyi made this declaration on Wednesday in Yola, during an update on the activities of Operation Whirlwind, a strategic initiative aimed at curbing fuel smuggling across Nigeria’s borders.
Represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General of Enforcement, Investigations, and Inspections, Olaniyi Olajogun, the CG disclosed that two filling stations in Adamawa—Oilpad Global Services Limited, located opposite Yola International Airport, and Gawi Oil Nigeria Limited along Numan Road—had been fined by a court for their involvement in smuggling activities.
The seized Premium Motor Spirit was auctioned to the public at ₦630 per litre.
“Operation Whirlwind, launched in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), continues to record significant successes in stopping the illegal exportation of petroleum products,” Olajogun said.
The CG further revealed that the anti-smuggling operation had yielded substantial seizures since its inception.
He said, “As you may recall, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, during his maiden address on the operation of the Petroleum Products Anti-Smuggling Team, code-named Operation Whirlwind, reported the seizure of 150,950 litres of PMS valued at ₦105.96 million. I am pleased to inform you that our efforts have since intensified, resulting in further successes across multiple border regions.”
He highlighted recent seizures, including two trucks, each loaded with 33,000 litres of PMS, 1,046 jerricans of 25 litres capacity, and 12 drums of 200 litres capacity filled with PMS, all intended for smuggling.
In total, 94,550 litres of PMS, valued at ₦75.45 million, were seized during this latest phase of the operation. One suspect was arrested in connection with the smuggling activities in Adamawa and is currently in protective custody in Abuja.
The National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Comptroller Kehinde Ejibune, lauded the support his officers were receiving from the Comptroller-General, expressing confidence that smugglers would soon be forced out of business. He affirmed that Customs officers, in collaboration with other security agencies, are working round the clock to strengthen Nigeria’s economy and reduce poverty.
