Operation Whirlwind Hits Beyond Shores of Nigeria Cutting Smugglers Fuel Supply to Niger, Benin
By Toyon Elizabeth, Maria Yusuf & Habeebat Sule
Operation Whirlwind, a Nigeria Customs drive to curb smuggling of petroleum products is wrecking untold havoc on smugglers taking the products to neighbouring countries as there is an unprecedented resistance
Nigeria Customs Service has raised the bar in it’s fight against economic saboteurs whose stock in trade is smuggling and diverting of petroleum products from Nigeria into neighboring countries.
Despite the removal of subsidy on premium motor spirit (PMS) and the attendant increase in price of the product, the smugglers kept their eyes on their unlawful game only to be regularly tamed by Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller General of Customs.
Mr. Adeniyi has stayed consistent in making seizures and effecting arrests to defeat the perpetrators of the Illegalities of fuel smuggling in tanker trucks, drums and jerrycans.
Before removal of subsidy,fuel smuggling was a rampant practice in Nigeria, with thousands of liters of petroleum products being illegally transported across the country’s borders hourly.
It had far-reaching consequences for the country’s economy. Not only did it lead to a significant loss of revenue for the government, it also created a thriving black market that undermines the official fuel distribution network for people living in Nigeria.
The Nigerian government , has expressed strong concern and taken action against fuel smuggling being a major threat to the nation’s economy and national security. The government loses billions of naira in revenue as subsidized fuel meant for local consumption is diverted for illegal export. This contributes to persistent fuel shortages, forcing Nigerians to endure long queues at petrol stations despite the country being one of Africa’s largest oil producers.
Adeniyi repeatedly identified the increasing rate of fuel smuggling, as a significant threat to the nation’s economy even after the removal of the subsidies,
He affirms that smugglers are threats to national security.To combat this illegal trade, the CGC initiated the “Operation Whirlwind” which is aimed at disrupting smuggling networks and ensuring fuel reaches its intended destinations.
The Operation Whirlwind which was launched on May 31, 2024, is a collaborative effort involving the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), ensuring thorough monitoring of PMS supply and distribution.
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi, on 22 May, 2024, in Abuja, inaugurated a workshop for a newly formed tactical team, Operation Whirlwind, aimed at combating the smuggling of Petroleum Products to the neighbouring countries.
Adeniyi emphasised the crucial role the team will play in protecting the nation’s economy from the adverse effects of smuggling petroleum products. He said “This is not a task force or the setting up of checkpoints.This is an intelligence-driven operation that will support the political will at the highest level. Our dedication and loyalty must not be compromised. There will be serious consequences against whoever acts against this mission. There is zero tolerance for sabotage.
“Economic saboteurs must be brought to justice.Over the years, we have rebuilt the service to an enviable height, our revenue is increasing, and our targets have also increased. However, if we are not significantly impacting the Nigerian economy, then we must do better.”
Barely two weeks after Nigeria Customs Service launched “Operation Whirlwind” , the CGC said the Service made successes in intercepting PMS in border areas across the nation including Seme in Lagos , Idiroko and Ajegunle in Ogun,Gamboru-Ngala and Baga in Bornu, Michika and Mubi in Adamawa,Yusufari and Kanamma in Yobe ,Maigatari in Jigawa , Illela in Sokoto ,
On Monday, 10 June, 2024, in Yola, the Adamawa state capital the CGC said the operatives attached to the initiative had, within 7 days of non-stop task, intercepted a total of 150,950 litres of PMS, valued at N105,965,391, at various locations nationwide, highlighting. On Friday 31 May 2024, a total of 45,000 litres of PMS in a tanker was seized at Mubi, Adamawa State.
“On Saturday, 1 June 2024, a total of 45,000 litres of PMS in a tanker was also seized at Mubi, Adamawa, while between Monday, 3 June 2024, and Friday, 7 June 2024, a total of 92,928 litres of PMS in 25 litres of different sizes of jerry cans at Mubi, Song-Wuroboki, Mubi-Sahuda road and Gidan Madara – Sahuda road, in Adamawa state and others in Illela, Sokoto and Agbaragba creek in Mfum border of Cross River State”
The CGC lamented the unfortunate increase in smuggling of PMS across Borno, Kebbi, Sokoto, Taraba, and Katsina states borders between April and May 2024, and the Service deemed it necessary to collaborate with the NSA to come up with a lasting solution to ensure that Nigerians enjoy the full benefits of fuel price deregulation in line with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said, “Between April and May 2024, Borno and Kebbi States recorded 76% and 59% increases in evacuations, ranking among the top three states. On a year-on-year basis (May 2023 and May 2024), Sokoto and Taraba States recorded the most substantial increases in evacuations, with 247% and 234% increases, respectively.”
The Team Commander of Operation Whirlwind, Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Assistant Comptroller Bello Mahmood Ishidi ,on 31st December 2024, announced that 61 sacks and 7 Jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) loaded in a large Canoe with it’s destination to Benin Republic was intercepted at Badagry waterside.
He disclosed that the smugglers had developed a new smuggling concept of PMS in sacks, although this re-emerged concept was an old method, but since the commencement of the operation, it was the first time that the team got across the method of all the seizures made which were intercepted in Jerrycans.
In Kwara state , between January 14 and February 11, 2025 Operation Whirlwind intercepted over 53,000 litres of PMS, with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦53 million.
The CGC said, “Through intelligence-driven operations and routine patrols, the Service’s operatives had successfully intercepted smuggled fuel across Gure road, Bankubu, Illesha Baruba axis, and Kayama forest.
Giving the statistics on the seizures , Adeniyi stated that the Service had, on 14th January seized 94 jerry cans (2,350 litres) of PMS at Gure road, valued at ₦2.35 million.
“On February 5th, 162 jerry cans (4,050 litres) of PMS were intercepted at Kayama forest in a Nissan Pickup (MHA556FD), driven by Nafiu Salami (now under administrative bail), with a DPV of ₦4.05 million. February 11: 33,000-litre tanker truck intercepted along Siya Buriya road, valued at ₦33 million.”
Again, the operation intercepted petroleum products worth N273,940,000 across various zones and made a seizure of 28,300 liters of PMS, worth N35,800,000 DPV between January 11 and February 23, 2025 at the Lagos and Ogun axis.
The CGC said that the seizures were strategically executed at identified smuggling corridors ncluding: Badagry-Seme corridor, Imeko-Afon Axis, Ilaro-Ojodan Network and Owode-Ajilete Route adding that the tactical operations yielded the following seizures:1,132 Jerry Cans of 25 liters each, totaling 28,300 liters,
He explained that in less than three months, Operation Whirlwind had yielded remarkable results with cumulative seizures of 245,370 liters of PMS valued at NGN 238,140,000 and that these figures exclude seizures made through regular command structures and Federal Operations Units.
“The cumulative impact of Operation Whirlwind since its inception is substantial. Across the three operational zones where I have presented reports this year—Adamawa/Taraba Command, Kwara Command, and now Lagos Zone “A”—we have successfully intercepted a total of 273,670 liters of petroleum products with a combined value of ₦273,940,000. These figures represent not just statistical achievements but tangible protection of our national economy and energy security.
The Operation also intercepted 34,470 litres of smuggled PMS along the Adamawa and Taraba border corridors. Acting on intelligence, operatives seized 1,149 jerrycans of PMS along with a specially modified transport vehicle valued at N4 million, bringing the total duty-paid value of the confiscated items to N37.78 million.
On March 14, 2025, 916 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) valued at ₦22.9 million was intercepted in Adamawa state.The seizure carried out at key flashpoints in Maiha, Mubi, Gurin, and Belel
The Comptroller-General of Customs said that each intercepted keg, containing 25 litres, brought the total to 22,900 litres of PMS.
He stated that the latest seizure follows another major interception on the Taraba axis. On 13 March 2025, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, alongside some members of his management team, announced the confiscation of 1,149 jerrycans of PMS in Gembu, Taraba State—totalling 34,470 litres.
“This interception is not just a victory for the Customs Service but a testament to the effectiveness of our intelligence-driven approach and the supportive collaboration of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA),” he said.
As a result of the continuous activities of Operation Whirlwind, smuggling of PMS to Niger Republic has been reduced to the barest minimum. As a result of scarcity of PMS in Niger recently , the government of the country has requested that the Nigeria support their nation with the provision of PMS.Niger’s fuel crisis has amounted to a situation where a litre is sold for N8,750 which is equivalent to 3,500 CFA in some areas.
The request was made by Niger’s Minister of Energy professor Amadou Haaua who led a delegation to Abuja to meet with Nigerian officials. The minister explained that the fuel shortage in Niger was caused by a combination of factors, including a decline in domestic production and disruptions to imports.
Before the scarcity, fuel was usually smuggled through border communities in Borno, Jigawa, Yobe, Zamfara,Kebbi and Sokoto to Niger Republic.
In response, the Nigerian government approved a delivery of 300 petrol trucks to Niger Republic after a delegation of senior officials of the military junta met with Nigerian federal government officials in Abuja.
The two countries have a long-standing relationship, with Nigeria being one of Niger’s largest trading partners. The fuel supply agreement would not only help to alleviate the fuel shortage in Niger but also strengthen economic ties between the two countries.
Benin Republic is not spared by the onslaught as most fuel seized in Lagos, Shaki Border in Oyo ;Chikanda Border in Baruten Kwara State and Babana in Niger were destined for Benin Republic and Niger.
