Fuel Diversion Crackdown: Customs, regulators tighten noose in Kebbi, seize 66,000 litres
By Gbolahan Salman Sokoto
A renewed crackdown on fuel diversion and smuggling in Kebbi State has exposed the scale of economic sabotage threatening Nigeria’s petroleum distribution system, with regulators warning offenders to brace for tougher sanctions.
No fewer than 66,000 litres of PMS were seized by the operations in differnt part of the state which also include a tanker loaded with 45,000 litres allegedly diverted from Katsina.
At a joint enforcement and auction exercise in Birnin Kebbi, the Controller of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kebbi Command, Muhammad Matawalle Ibrahim, said the operation reflects a strategic shift toward stronger inter-agency coordination to block leakages in the fuel supply chain.
According to him, Operation Whirlwind — a specialised anti-smuggling unit — is intensifying surveillance across border corridors to halt the illegal movement of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.
“This initiative is designed to safeguard national resources and reinforce economic stability by tackling the illicit movement of petroleum products,” he said.
Providing operational details, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Aliyu Abubakar, disclosed that intelligence-led raids across key flashpoints led to the interception of 21,250 litres of PMS packed in 864 jerrycans.
He described the seizures — valued at over N21.2 million — as evidence of a thriving black market network exploiting distribution loopholes.
In a related development, a tanker transporting 45,000 litres of PMS meant for Katsina State was also intercepted along Jega Road after it was allegedly diverted to Kebbi, a violation of distribution regulations.
The tanker has since been handed over to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority for further regulatory action.
Abubakar stressed that such diversions distort supply planning and undermine government efforts to ensure equitable distribution of fuel nationwide.
“The interception is not just a seizure; it is a disruption of an economic crime that affects national stability,” he said, adding that enforcement operations would be sustained and expanded.
Reinforcing the regulatory stance, NMDPRA representative Grace Dauda warned that diverting petroleum products deprives intended beneficiaries and weakens critical sectors.
“When products are not delivered to their designated locations, the impact is felt across essential services, including healthcare and security,” she said.
She urged marketers and transporters to strictly adhere to approved manifests, noting that violations could attract both financial penalties and legal action.
Authorities also called on the public and media to support the fight against smuggling by reporting suspicious movements of fuel, describing community vigilance as crucial to dismantling entrenched networks.
The latest enforcement action underscores a broader push by the NCS under the leadership of Bashir Adewale Adeniyi to combine intelligence, technology, and inter-agency collaboration in tackling petroleum-related crimes.
With fuel smuggling still driven by price disparities and cross-border demand, officials say sustained enforcement remains key to protecting Nigeria’s economy.
