The Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority have strengthened their collaboration to prevent the diversion of petroleum products intended for domestic use, as the country steps up measures to safeguard energy security while boosting fuel exports.
This renewed commitment was highlighted in a meeting between Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi and NMDPRA’s Executive Director for Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure, Mr. Ogbugo Ukoha.
According to a statement on Sunday by the Customs Service’s National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, the discussions centered on enhancing border controls, improving intelligence sharing, and synchronizing enforcement with ongoing petroleum sector reforms.
The statement read, “The Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority are strengthening their collaboration to combat the diversion of petroleum products intended for domestic use and to safeguard Nigeria’s energy security.”
Speaking at the meeting, Adeniyi emphasized the Customs Service’s commitment to robust inter-agency cooperation to prevent the diversion of petroleum products meant for domestic consumption to neighboring countries.
He highlighted that joint operations with the NMDPRA had already produced concrete results, citing Operation Whirlwind as a model for intelligence-driven enforcement, coordinated field actions, and real-time information sharing.
Adeniyi added that the Customs Service is fully aligned with ongoing petroleum sector reforms and will continue to provide technical guidance, operational feedback, and border management expertise to support the implementation of new NMDPRA guidelines.
Adeniyi also praised the Authority for aligning legacy processes with the Petroleum Industry Act, emphasizing that clear and efficient export-point procedures are vital as Nigeria shifts from being a net importer to an emerging exporter of refined petroleum products.
“We welcome every initiative that strengthens energy security and ensures that the gains made in reducing cross-border diversion are not reversed. Our shared responsibility is to protect national interest, support legitimate trade, and maintain a transparent system that stakeholders can rely on. We will continue to work closely with sister agencies to achieve these outcomes,” he stated.
In his remarks, NMDPRA Executive Director Mr. Ogbugo Ukoha said the Authority enjoys a long-standing and productive partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service, noting that Operation Whirlwind remains a highlight of their collaboration.
He explained that both agencies deploy personnel, share intelligence, and jointly monitor petroleum products at border corridors, resulting in a significant reduction in cross-border diversion.
Ukoha added that the visit aimed to brief the Comptroller-General of Customs on newly developed guidelines for designating export points for petroleum products, as Nigeria’s refining capacity continues to grow.
He noted that the NMDPRA is consulting key institutions—including the Customs Service, 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 they are implemented.
Ukoha also recalled several field operations and strategic engagements with Customs leadership, including the joint launch of Operation Whirlwind in Yola, where both agencies reaffirmed their commitment to preventing diversion and securing the domestic petroleum supply chain.
He added that while enforcement has significantly curbed irregular movements of petroleum products, the removal of fuel subsidies has also greatly reduced the economic incentive for cross-border smuggling.
Ukoha said the NMDPRA will continue collaborating closely with the Customs Service to sustain progress and ensure that petroleum exports are properly regulated without compromising the country’s energy security.
In recent years, Nigeria has grappled with large-scale diversion and smuggling of subsidized petroleum products to neighboring countries, costing the economy billions of naira annually.
