The Nigeria Customs Service has formally transferred an intercepted consignment of Liquefied Petroleum Gas to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority. The handover, which took place on Friday, was held at the warehouse of the Customs Cross River/Calabar Free Trade Zone/Akwa Ibom Area Command.
The transfer was witnessed by the Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Nkeiruka Nwala, and the NMDPRA State Coordinator, Joy Okor-Odey, underscoring the growing collaboration between the two agencies in regulating the petroleum sector.
Speaking on the exercise, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Mahmood Bello, said the handover reflected Customs’ resolve to prevent the illegal diversion of petroleum products. He explained that the intercepted LPG was meant for legitimate domestic consumption, warning that diverting such products poses a direct threat to national economic security.
Mr Bello also disclosed that the event featured the public auction of 245 jerry cans of petrol, totalling 6,125 litres. The products were intercepted at identified flashpoints, including Ekairoa, Sakansi, Abaka and Yukongo. According to him, the auction recorded a total duty-paid value of N6.135 million.
He noted that the interceptions and the subsequent handover were intended to ensure that petroleum products are transported, distributed and utilised in line with established regulatory guidelines. He cautioned that illegal diversion and smuggling distort legitimate supply chains and amount to economic sabotage. The national coordinator commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, the Office of the National Security Adviser, NMDPRA and Operation Whirlwind personnel for their roles, while urging operational commanders to intensify surveillance and intelligence gathering amid reports of possible increases in petroleum product diversion and smuggling.
In her remarks, Ms Nwala described the handover as part of efforts to strengthen inter-agency collaboration and combat petroleum product smuggling. She stressed the need for sustained cooperation among relevant agencies to protect national economic interests and ensure compliance with petroleum regulations, adding that the formal transfer demonstrated regulatory compliance, accountability and effective coordination within the sector. She also commended NMDPRA representatives and other stakeholders for partnering with Customs to tackle economic crimes.
Mrs Okor-Odey, for her part, described the exercise as a practical demonstration of inter-agency cooperation and regulatory responsibility, noting that it would help ensure LPG reaches legitimate domestic, commercial and industrial consumers. “LPG is not just a product; it is energy for homes, businesses and industries,” she said. “When LPG is diverted or illegally transported, it can have serious consequences for consumers and the economy.”
She warned individuals and companies involved in illegal diversion that the authority would not tolerate activities that undermine product availability. She revealed that preliminary investigations had been completed and that the company concerned had paid the applicable administrative penalty. The coordinator assured that the handed-over LPG would be handled professionally in line with established safety standards, citing the product’s volatile nature, and pledged continued collaboration with Customs and other security agencies to strengthen intelligence sharing and regulatory enforcement.
