The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said the significant price disparity between fuel costs in Nigeria and neighbouring countries has fueled large-scale smuggling, fostering a black market economy that deprives the nation of critical resources.
This announcement follows the interception of over 53,000 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS), with a total duty paid value (DPV) of N53 million, between January 14 and February 11, 2025, by Operation Whirlwind in Kwara State.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Kwara Command on February 17, the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described fuel smuggling as a “direct threat to Nigeria’s economic stability and national security”.
According to Adeniyi, as of February 10, 2025, the global petroleum price stood at N1,184.83 per litre in Nigeria, compared to N1,680.32 per litre in Benin and N2,030.89 per litre in Cameroon.
He noted that despite the removal of fuel subsidies, smugglers continue to exploit price disparities between Nigeria and its neighbours. Adeniyi said that through intelligence-driven operations and routine patrols, the NCS operatives successfully intercepted smuggled fuel along Gure Road, Bankubu, Illesha Baruba, and the Kayama Forest axis.
Providing details of the seizures, Adeniyi stated that on January 14, the Service seized 94 jerry cans (2,350 litres) of PMS at Gure Road, valued at N2.35 million.
He said on February 5, operatives intercepted 162 jerry cans (4,050 litres) of PMS at Kayama Forest, with a DPV of N4.05 million, transported in a Nissan Pickup (MHA556FD) driven by Nafiu Salami, who is currently under administrative bail.
Adeniyi added that a 33,000-litre tanker truck was intercepted on February 11, along Siya Buriya Road, with a total value of N33 million. The Customs boss warned that this illegal trade not only undermines government policies but also adversely affects ordinary Nigerians by inflating fuel prices and creating artificial scarcity.
“This is not just about revenue loss; it is about economic sabotage. Every litre smuggled out of Nigeria is a litre that could have powered local industries, facilitated transportation, and supported small businesses,” he said.
The NCS boss emphasised that the evolving tactics of smugglers necessitate more than traditional enforcement approaches, highlighting Customs’ adoption of a technology-driven strategy, integrating real-time intelligence, advanced surveillance systems and strategic community engagement to track and disrupt smuggling networks.
Adeniyi pledged to sustain the momentum of anti-smuggling operations nationwide and called on border communities, fuel marketers, and stakeholders to support efforts to curb illegal fuel trade.
He reaffirmed the NCS’s commitment to collaborating with relevant agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), to ensure compliance and safeguard Nigeria’s economic interests.
Adeniyi also issued a stern warning to those involved in fuel smuggling, urging them to reconsider their actions, as the full weight of the law would be enforced against them.
