The Nigeria Customs Service has made significant strides in its fight against smuggling through Operation Whirlwind, recently announcing the seizure of 94,550 litres of petrol. This operation focuses primarily on international borders, where the petrol was intercepted, believed to be destined for smuggling out of Nigeria.

During a press briefing in Yola, Adamawa State, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, revealed that these seizures are part of the ongoing anti-smuggling operations initiated after a prior media briefing in June. In that earlier session, he reported a remarkable achievement: 150,950 litres of petrol worth N105,965,391 had already been seized from various locations across the country.

Bashir Adeniyi emphasized that these recent actions demonstrate the Customs Service’s determination to halt petrol smuggling activities that undermine the nation’s economy. He was represented by Deputy Controller General Olaniyi Olajugun at the press briefing, where he reiterated the agency’s commitment to this crucial mission.

At the briefing, Controller Hussein Keinde, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, highlighted the severe impact smuggling has on the economy. “Smuggling kills the economy, and we need intelligence information as we are determined to eliminate the smuggling cartels,” he stated. The operation aims to dismantle these cartels that threaten the nation’s industrial growth.

Bashir Kafur, the Adamawa State Coordinator of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), also spoke at the event. He issued a stern warning to petrol dealers involved in diverting products, stating, “We need Adamawa products for Adamawa people, and we don’t want them taken away from the state or out of the country.” He stressed that any dealer caught trying to divert products would face severe consequences, including the closure of their business.