In Kebbi, Customs Auctions 66,500 Litres of Seized Petrol to Citizens
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kebbi State Command, has auctioned 66,500 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) seized during a series of anti-smuggling operations aimed at curbing fuel diversion and economic sabotage.
The public auction and handover exercise, held in Birnin Kebbi, formed part of intensified enforcement efforts under Operation Whirlwind, a special unit established to combat cross-border smuggling of petroleum products.
Speaking at the event, the Customs Area Controller, Muhammad Ibrahim, described the exercise as a significant milestone in the command’s ongoing crackdown on illicit fuel trade.
He noted that Operation Whirlwind remains a strategic enforcement mechanism tasked with monitoring and suppressing the illegal movement of PMS across Nigeria’s borders, adding that the initiative is crucial to safeguarding national resources and strengthening economic stability.
The National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Aliyu Abubakar, disclosed that 864 jerrycans of PMS, estimated at 21,500 litres, were intercepted at multiple smuggling flashpoints, including Bagudo, Kamba, and Jega Road.
He added that the seized products have an estimated duty-paid value exceeding ₦21.2 million, reflecting the scale of the illicit trade being targeted by enforcement agencies.
Read Also:
In a related development, Abubakar revealed that a tanker conveying approximately 45,000 litres of petrol was intercepted along the Jega axis. He explained that the product, originally destined for Katsina State, had been illegally diverted to Kebbi, in violation of regulatory provisions.
The tanker has since been handed over to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for further investigation and necessary regulatory action.
Abubakar emphasised that the public auction of seized petroleum products underscores the Service’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and due process in the disposal of confiscated items.
Also speaking, a representative of the NMDPRA, Grace Dauda, cautioned against the diversion of petroleum products, warning that such practices disrupt supply distribution and undermine national planning.
She explained that the diversion of fuel consignments deprives intended destinations of critical supply required for essential services, including healthcare, security operations, and economic activities, adding that offenders risk financial penalties and possible prosecution.
The enforcement actions come amid ongoing concerns over fuel smuggling in Nigeria’s border communities, particularly in the North-West, where porous borders and price differentials continue to drive illegal trade.
Authorities maintain that sustained operations, intelligence-led enforcement, and inter-agency collaboration remain key to protecting Nigeria’s fuel supply chain and supporting broader economic stability.
By PRNigeria
