Customs Comptroller Bashir Adeniyi Talks Tough on Ending Fuel Smuggling Through Border Areas

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adeniyi, on Monday in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, said that the agency, within one month this year, intercepted a total of 800 jerrycans of 25 litres capacity of petrol, including a truckload of 33,000 litres of petrol worth N53 million along border areas in Kwara State.

Disclosing this during a familiarisation visit to the State Command, the Customs boss said that the seizures were made at different locations, including Baruten, Kaiama Forest, Ilesha-Baruba, and Gure border towns, among others.

The Comptroller General, who said that the success had complemented the agency’s ongoing crackdown on smugglers in the country, added that the period of the seizure was from the middle of January to February 15, 2025.

He described the Kwara border with Benin Republic as a very strategic axis, adding that the area would witness a greater presence of senior officers more often than before.

According to him, with the launch of its “Operation Whirlwind”, NCS has also achieved significant results.

These achievements, he noted, also include the “sealing of 12 retail outlets for smuggling activities, the seizure of 460,000 litres of PMS destined for neighbouring countries, the confiscation of 23 means of conveyance and over 8,000 kegs of PMS.”

He added that seven suspects have been arrested, while three marketers are currently facing prosecution for regulatory offences since the operation started.

Adeniyi said the sophistication of smugglers demanded more than a conventional approach, adding that the persistent challenge of petroleum smuggling continues to pose a serious challenge to our economy.

“Since the implementation of the fuel subsidy removal by the government, we have observed a very disturbing trend in sophisticated smuggling operations across our borders.

“This is despite the expectations that fuel subsidies are expected to bridge the gap. There are lots of disparities that we still experience when we compare the fuel prices in our neighbouring countries with what we have here.

“Petroleum prices in Nigeria now are below N1,000. Despite the fact that this figure seems to be higher, it is significantly lower when compared to other prices in neighbouring countries like Benin Republic and Cameroon, which go for around N1,700 and N2,000 respectively in our local currency,” he stated.

He said despite “our efforts to curb these activities collaboratively, the lucrative illegal economic activity has continued to incentivise more sophisticated smuggling operations in the borders.”

He warned those involved in smuggling activities to shun the act or face the full wrath of the law.

In his remarks, the NCS Comptroller, Kwara Area Command, Comptroller Faith Ojeifo, said the command would ensure a total fight against the activities of smugglers in the state.

He urged the residents of border communities to support the service with intelligence information on the activities of smugglers in their midst to enable it to succeed.