The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA have strengthened their collaboration to combat the diversion of petroleum products meant for domestic consumption and to protect Nigeria’s energy security.
This renewed partnership came to the fore during a meeting between the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, and the Executive Director, Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure of the NMDPRA, Mr. Ogbugo Ukoha, held on Tuesday, 9 December 2025, at the Customs House, Maitama, Abuja.
During the engagement, CGC Adeniyi reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to deepening inter-agency cooperation, particularly in safeguarding the nation’s domestic energy supply and ensuring that petroleum products designated for local use are not diverted across Nigeria’s borders.
He noted that existing collaboration between both agencies has already yielded measurable成果, especially through Operation Whirlwind, which he described as a model for effective intelligence sharing, joint enforcement and coordinated field operations aimed at curbing cross-border fuel diversion.
The CGC further assured that the Service is fully aligned with ongoing reforms in the petroleum regulatory space and will continue to provide technical input, operational feedback and border management expertise to support the implementation of new export point guidelines being developed by the NMDPRA.
Commending the Authority for its efforts to harmonise legacy processes with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), Adeniyi stressed that clear and efficient export point procedures are critical as Nigeria transitions from a net importer to an emerging exporter of refined petroleum products.
“We welcome every initiative that strengthens energy security and ensures that the gains recorded in reducing cross-border diversion are sustained. Our shared responsibility is to protect national interest, support legitimate trade and maintain a transparent system that stakeholders can rely on,” he said.
In his remarks, the NMDPRA Executive Director, Mr. Ogbugo Ukoha, described the relationship between the Authority and the Nigeria Customs Service as longstanding and productive, identifying Operation Whirlwind as the high point of that collaboration.
Ukoha explained that through joint deployment of personnel, intelligence sharing and coordinated monitoring of border corridors, both agencies have achieved a significant reduction in the illegal movement of petroleum products.
He said the visit was to brief the Comptroller-General on newly developed guidelines for the designation of petroleum export points, in view of Nigeria’s expanding refining capacity.
According to him, the NMDPRA is consulting widely with 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 are practical, transparent and reflective of operational realities before full implementation.
He recalled several joint field operations and strategic engagements with Customs leadership, including the launch of Operation Whirlwind in Yola, where both agencies reiterated their commitment to curbing diversion and securing the domestic petroleum supply chain.
Ukoha added that while enforcement actions have played a major role in reducing irregular fuel movements, the removal of fuel subsidy has significantly reduced the economic incentives for cross-border smuggling.
He assured that the NMDPRA will continue to work closely with the Nigeria Customs Service to sustain the gains recorded and ensure that petroleum exports are effectively regulated without exposing the country to energy security risks.
