Nigeria Customs Auction Seized 14,875 Litres of Petrol Worth N14.9m in Lagos

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), through its anti-smuggling unit, Operation Whirlwind, has auctioned 14,875 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) valued at N14.875 million to members of the public. The auction took place on Tuesday at the Customs Training College in Ikeja.

Addressing journalists at the event, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Controller of Customs Abubakar Aliyu, explained that the petroleum product was intercepted while being illegally exported to a neighbouring country. He noted that the seizure was made within the Lagos/Ogun axis of Zone A over the past four weeks.

According to Aliyu, the operation acted on credible intelligence to dismantle a smuggling network involved in the illegal diversion of PMS. A total of 595 jerrycans, containing 14,875 litres, were seized at key border flashpoints including Imeko, Ilara, Ilaro, Idiroko, and Seme-Badagry.

He stressed that petroleum smuggling undermines the national economy, depletes government revenue, disrupts domestic supply, and creates artificial scarcity. To ensure transparency, the auction was conducted in the presence of relevant government agencies, security personnel, civil society groups, and the media.

Aliyu commended the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority for their support. He also praised the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, for his leadership.

Warning smugglers, Aliyu declared that the era of impunity is over, adding that Operation Whirlwind remains committed to intelligence-led enforcement. He urged border communities to cooperate with security agencies by providing timely information to protect the nation’s economic interests.