Customs boss, NMDPRA officials reinforce Operation Whirlwind, align enforcement with petroleum sector reforms
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) have stepped up collaboration to curb the diversion of petroleum products meant for domestic consumption, as Nigeria intensifies efforts to protect its energy security while expanding refined fuel exports.
The renewed push was reaffirmed during a meeting between the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and the Executive Director in charge of Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure at the NMDPRA, Ogbugo Ukoha.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the National Public Relations Officer of the Customs Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, the engagement focused on tightening border controls, strengthening intelligence sharing, and aligning enforcement strategies with ongoing reforms in the petroleum sector.
According to the statement, both agencies are determined to block the diversion of petroleum products designated for local use and to safeguard Nigeria’s energy security as refining capacity continues to grow.
Speaking during the meeting, Adeniyi said the Customs Service remained committed to strong inter-agency cooperation to ensure that petroleum products intended for domestic consumption are not illegally diverted to neighbouring countries.
He noted that joint operations with the NMDPRA had already produced tangible results, particularly through Operation Whirlwind, which he described as a model for intelligence-driven enforcement, coordinated field operations, and real-time information exchange.
The Comptroller-General added that the Service was fully aligned with reforms in the petroleum regulatory space and would continue to provide technical input, operational feedback, and border management expertise to support the rollout of new guidelines being developed by the NMDPRA.
Adeniyi also commended the Authority for harmonising legacy procedures with the Petroleum Industry Act, stressing that clear and efficient export-point processes would be critical as Nigeria transitions from a net importer to an emerging exporter of refined petroleum products.
He said initiatives that strengthen energy security and prevent a resurgence of cross-border diversion were essential to protecting national interest, supporting legitimate trade, and maintaining transparency across the supply chain.
In his remarks, Ukoha said the NMDPRA enjoys a longstanding and productive working relationship with the Nigeria Customs Service, describing Operation Whirlwind as the most visible outcome of that collaboration.
He explained that the deployment of joint personnel, intelligence sharing, and coordinated monitoring of petroleum products along border corridors had led to a significant reduction in cross-border diversion.
Ukoha said the purpose of the visit was also to brief the Comptroller-General on newly developed guidelines for the designation of petroleum export points, in response to Nigeria’s expanding refining capacity.
He disclosed that the NMDPRA is engaging key institutions, 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 fully implemented.
He recalled previous field operations and strategic engagements with Customs leadership, including the joint launch of Operation Whirlwind in Yola, where both agencies reinforced their commitment to curbing diversion and securing the domestic supply chain.
Ukoha added that while enforcement actions have played a major role in reducing irregular movements of petroleum products, the removal of fuel subsidy has significantly reduced the economic incentive for cross-border smuggling.
According to him, the NMDPRA will continue to work closely with the Customs Service to sustain the progress achieved and ensure that petroleum exports are properly regulated without exposing the country to energy security risks.
Nigeria has in recent years struggled with large-scale diversion and smuggling of subsidised petroleum products to neighbouring countries, costing the economy billions of naira annually.
With fuel subsidy removal and increasing local refining capacity driven largely by private investment, regulators say the focus has shifted to balancing export opportunities with the need to secure domestic supply, a task both Customs and the NMDPRA say requires tighter coordination, stronger enforcement, and clearer rules at Nigeria’s borders.
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