The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified its efforts to combat economic sabotage, announcing the interception of 199,495 litres of smuggled fuel in Adamawa State. The operation, conducted under “Operation Whirlwind,” highlights the NCS’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s energy sector and stabilising the economy.
Addressing the media in Yola, Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, condemned the activities of smugglers, describing their actions as a direct assault on the nation’s economy. He reaffirmed the agency’s dedication to tackling fuel smuggling, which undermines President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms aimed at stabilising the energy sector.
“Despite the administration’s well-articulated efforts, some unpatriotic elements remain determined to sabotage these reforms through complex smuggling operations,” Adeniyi said.
The seized fuel, valued at ₦199,495,000 in Duty Paid Value (DPV), was intercepted during intelligence-driven operations in the Adamawa/Taraba Command. The CGC disclosed that smugglers employed various tactics, including night-time river crossings at Dasin Waterways, storage in illegal facilities near border towns, and concealment in unauthorised dispensing points.
“Customs operatives successfully intercepted these products along strategic smuggling routes, including Mova, Dasin, the Galamba-Song axis, and the Mubi-Maiha corridor,” Adeniyi added, commending the dedication of his officers in curbing such illegal activities.
He assured Nigerians of the agency’s continued vigilance, stressing the NCS’s commitment to adapting its strategies, enhancing intelligence gathering, and collaborating with other security agencies. “There will be no safe haven for smugglers within our operational areas,” he warned.
Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Finance and Administration, ACG Hussain Ejibunu, praised the Customs leadership for its proactive measures. He also urged citizens to report suspicious activities to security agencies, emphasising the importance of public cooperation in tackling economic sabotage.
The seizure underscores the Customs Service’s unwavering determination to secure Nigeria’s borders and protect its economy from the devastating impacts of smuggling.
Nigeria Customs Seizes Nearly 200,000 Litres of Smuggled Fuel In Adamawa
