By Seun Ibiyemi
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Bashir Adeniyi, on Friday handed over 1,650 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) valued at N40.7 million to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority for investigations.
Speaking at the handover ceremony in Lagos, Adeniyi said the seized contraband was intercepted at various locations, including Badagry, Owode, and Seme, over the past nine weeks.
He noted that the jerrycans, each containing 25 litres of PMS, were recovered along notorious smuggling routes such as Adodo, Ajilete, Idjaun, Ilaro, Idiroko, and Imeko.
Adeniyi, represented at the event by the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Abubakar Aliyu, said three tankers used to transport the petroleum products carrying 60,000, 45,000, and 49,000 litres respectively amounted to a total of 154,000 litres.
He stressed that the interceptions were intelligence-driven operations aimed at curbing smuggling, economic sabotage, and market distortion.
“The transportation and movement of petroleum products are governed by clearly defined regulations. These items contravened standard operating procedures, undermining government policy, market stability, and national revenue,” Adeniyi said.
He warned that sensitive border corridors such as Owode, Seme, and Badagry will no longer be safe havens for illegal cross-border petroleum movement.
In her remarks, Grace Dauda urged the public to cooperate in stopping economic sabotage, stressing that NMDPRA ensures that petroleum products produced in Nigeria are consumed locally.
The handover underscores the collaboration between the Nigerian Customs Service and NMDPRA to maintain transparency, regulatory integrity, and energy security.
