Customs Prevents Economic Sabotage, Hands Over Three Diverted Fuel Tankers to NMDPRA

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified its crackdown on the illegal diversion of petroleum products, handing over three intercepted tanker trucks to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) as part of efforts to safeguard domestic fuel supply, protect government revenue and prevent economic saboteurs from accessing products that could sustain illicit activities.

The handover took place on Tuesday, 4 August 2026, at the Customs House, Bompai, Kano, where the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller of Customs (DC) Abu Aliyu, said the interception reflected the Federal Government’s determination to eliminate leakages in the petroleum distribution chain and ensure products meant for Nigerians reach their approved destinations.

DC Aliyu disclosed that the three tanker trucks, bearing registration numbers FGE 570 XB, KMG 361 XA and KMC 69 ZR, were intercepted along the Kura Road axis of Kano on 25 July 2026 following credible intelligence and sustained surveillance by operatives of Operation Whirlwind across Kano, Jigawa and Katsina States.

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He explained that the products were originally destined for Birnin Kebbi and Argungu in Kebbi State, stressing that “The illegal diversion of petroleum products constitutes economic sabotage. It threatens national development, compromises energy security, drains government revenue, distorts the supply chain, creates artificial scarcity and undermines public confidence in the downstream petroleum sector.”

The National Coordinator noted that Operation Whirlwind, established under the strategic direction of the Office of the National Security Adviser, has expanded its mandate beyond Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to include Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). He stressed that the operation would continue to detect, disrupt and dismantle criminal networks involved in petroleum diversion and cross-border smuggling.

Earlier, the Acting Customs Area Controller, Kano/Jigawa Area Command, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Usman Adamu, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to supporting Operation Whirlwind through logistics, intelligence and operational collaboration. He said the partnership between the Nigeria Customs Service and NMDPRA had continued to strengthen efforts to secure the petroleum supply chain, assuring that the Command would provide the necessary support for successful operations.

Receiving the intercepted trucks on behalf of the Kano State Coordinator of NMDPRA, the Head of Operations, Murtala Abubakar, assured the Service that the agency would immediately commence regulatory procedures and impose appropriate sanctions where necessary, adding, “Seeing is believing. Everyone has witnessed the excellent work being done through this inter-agency collaboration.”