Customs, NMDPRA Tighten Noose on Fuel Diversion as Nigeria Moves Toward Petroleum Exports
Kathy Kyari
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) have intensified their collaboration to curb the diversion of petroleum products meant for domestic consumption, as Nigeria positions itself as an emerging exporter of refined products.
This renewed enforcement and regulatory alignment was underscored on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, during a strategic meeting between the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and the Executive Director, Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure at NMDPRA, Ogbugo Ukoha, at the Customs House in Maitama, Abuja.
At the meeting, Adeniyi reaffirmed the Customs Service’s commitment to interagency cooperation aimed at safeguarding Nigeria’s energy security and preventing petroleum products intended for local use from being smuggled across borders.
He said the collaboration between both agencies had already yielded “measurable results,” citing Operation Whirlwind as a benchmark initiative for intelligence sharing, joint enforcement and coordinated field operations.
The Comptroller-General noted that the NCS remains aligned with ongoing reforms in the petroleum regulatory space and would continue to provide technical input, operational feedback and border management expertise to support the implementation of new guidelines being developed by the NMDPRA.
Adeniyi commended the Authority’s efforts to harmonise legacy processes with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), stressing the importance of efficient export-point procedures as Nigeria transitions from a net importer to a petroleum-exporting nation.
“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 said.
In his remarks, Ukoha described the relationship between the NMDPRA and the Nigeria Customs Service as longstanding and productive, identifying Operation Whirlwind as the high point of their collaboration.
He explained that the operation involved joint deployment of personnel, intelligence exchange and coordinated monitoring of petroleum products along border corridors, which led to a significant reduction in cross-border diversion.
According to Ukoha, the visit was aimed at briefing the Comptroller-General on newly developed guidelines for the designation of petroleum export points, in response to Nigeria’s expanding refining capacity.
He said the NMDPRA is engaging critical stakeholders, including the Nigeria 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 joint field operations and strategic engagements with Customs leadership, including the launch of Operation Whirlwind in Yola, where both agencies reaffirmed their resolve to secure the domestic petroleum supply chain.
While enforcement had been critical to recent gains, he noted that the removal of fuel subsidy had also reduced the economic incentive for cross-border smuggling.
He said the Authority would continue to work closely with the Customs Service to sustain progress, ensuring that petroleum exports are effectively regulated without exposing Nigeria to energy security risks.
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