The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) have stepped up collaboration to curb the diversion of petroleum products meant for domestic consumption and strengthen Nigeria’s energy security.
The renewed resolve was underscored in Abuja during a meeting between the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and the NMDPRA’s Executive Director for Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure, Ogbugo Ukoha.
Adeniyi reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to deepening inter-agency cooperation, particularly in protecting Nigeria’s domestic energy supply and preventing the illegal movement of petroleum products to neighbouring countries.
He said the partnership had already delivered tangible results, citing Operation Whirlwind as a successful framework for intelligence sharing, joint enforcement and coordinated field operations.
According to him, the Customs Service remains aligned with ongoing reforms in the petroleum sector and will continue to provide technical input, operational feedback and border management expertise to support the implementation of new guidelines being developed by the NMDPRA.
Adeniyi also commended the Authority’s efforts to harmonise existing processes with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), stressing that clear and efficient export point procedures are critical as Nigeria transitions from a net importer to an emerging exporter of petroleum products.
“We welcome initiatives that strengthen energy security and ensure that the gains recorded in reducing cross-border diversion are sustained. Our shared duty is to protect the national interest, support legitimate trade and maintain a transparent system that stakeholders can trust. We will continue to work closely with sister agencies to achieve these objectives,” he said.
Read Also: I won’t defect to APC, says Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, affirms loyalty to PDP
In his remarks, the Executive Director, Ukoha, said the NMDPRA enjoys a longstanding and productive working relationship with the Nigeria Customs Service, noting that Operation Whirlwind remained the high point of that collaboration.
He explained that both agencies deployed personnel, exchanged intelligence and jointly monitored petroleum products in border corridors, leading to a marked reduction in cross border diversion.
Ukoha said the purpose of the visit was to brief the CGC on newly developed guidelines for designating export points for petroleum products as Nigeria’s refining capacity expands.
He said the NMDPRA is engaging key institutions, including Customs, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and the Nigerian Navy, to ensure the guidelines reflect operational realities before implementation.
He recalled several field operations and strategic engagements with the Customs leadership, including the joint launch of Operation Whirlwind in Yola, where both agencies reinforced their commitment to curbing diversion and securing the domestic supply chain.
He added that while enforcement had played a major role in reducing irregular movements of petroleum products, the removal of fuel subsidy had significantly reduced the economic incentive for cross border smuggling.
According to him, the NMDPRA will continue to work closely with the Customs Service to sustain progress and ensure that petroleum exports are properly regulated without exposing the country to energy security risks.
