Smugglers Still Exploiting Fuel Price Gap Despite Subsidy Removal – Customs Boss Laments
Despite the Nigerian government’s removal of fuel subsidies, cross-border petrol smuggling remains a lucrative venture for criminals, the Nigeria Customs Service has revealed.
Speaking during the Service’s Q1 performance briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the persistent price disparity between Nigeria and its neighbours continues to make smuggling attractive.
“Even after the fuel subsidy was removed, smuggling of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) hasn’t stopped. The reason is simple—our pump prices remain significantly lower than those in neighbouring countries,” Adeniyi explained.
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He cited current fuel prices in Nigeria ranging between N880 and N950 per litre, compared to N1,600 to N2,000 in countries like Niger Republic, Cameroon, and Benin Republic. “That price gap continues to drive smuggling because it guarantees instant profit for traffickers,” he noted.
The Customs chief also disclosed that although some countries have begun reducing local fuel prices—dropping to about N850 or N900 per litre in parts of Cameroon—the difference is still wide enough to sustain illegal trade across porous borders.
In response to the challenge, Adeniyi announced the launch of a targeted enforcement initiative called Operation Whirlwind, aimed at disrupting smuggling networks exploiting the price arbitrage.
“The motivation for smugglers is clear, and so must our response be—robust, proactive, and strategic,” he said.
The Customs Service has also vowed to intensify border surveillance and collaborate with other security agencies to stem the tide of petroleum product diversion, which undermines Nigeria’s economy and fuels black market activities across West Africa.
By PRNigeria
