The volume of petroleum products smuggled across Nigeria’s borders has reduced following the removal of petrol subsidy, though the business remains lucrative for operators targeting neighbouring countries, the Nigeria Customs Service has said.
Mahmood Bello Ishidi, National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, disclosed this on Wednesday in Ilorin, stressing that despite the transition to a deregulated downstream petroleum market, cross-border price opportunities continue to sustain illicit trade in Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
He spoke during the public auction of 15,375 litres of petrol intercepted by Operation Whirlwind’s Niger/Kwara team, where he also noted that the persistence of smuggling underscored the economic incentives still available to illegal petroleum traders.
The confiscated products, comprising 615 jerrycans of 25 litres each, were intercepted across several locations, including Kaiama, Shiya, Kenu, Boriya, Luma, Baruten, Ilesha-Baruba, Taberu and Salla-Gwanara in Kwara State.
The duty-paid value of the seized consignment stood at N15.375 million, he said.
He said the operation’s mandate was to curb the diversion and smuggling of petroleum products, adding that intelligence-led interventions had continued to yield results across strategic locations.
The development highlights the continuing challenge facing Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market, where subsidy removal has altered domestic pricing but has not completely eliminated the commercial attraction of supplying neighbouring markets through illegal channels.
