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By Uche Usim
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) are stepping up efforts to prevent petroleum products meant for local consumption from being diverted abroad, in a move aimed at protecting Nigeria’s energy security.
The renewed collaboration was highlighted during a meeting on Tuesday, 9 December 2025, at Customs House, Maitama, Abuja, between Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi and NMDPRA Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure, Ogbugo Ukoha.
Adeniyi emphasised Customs’ commitment to interagency cooperation, stressing the importance of ensuring domestic fuel stays within Nigeria. “We welcome every initiative that strengthens energy security and ensures that the gains made in reducing cross-border diversion are not reversed,” he said. “Our shared responsibility is to protect national interest, support legitimate trade and maintain a transparent system that stakeholders can rely on. We will continue to work closely with sister agencies to achieve these outcomes.”
The Customs chief also praised the impact of joint operations like Operation Whirlwind, describing it as a model for intelligence sharing, coordinated enforcement, and field operations. He confirmed that Customs would continue to provide technical guidance and operational feedback to support NMDPRA’s new export point guidelines, which are designed to align with ongoing reforms in the petroleum sector under the Petroleum Industry Act.
“These clear and efficient procedures for export points are crucial as Nigeria transitions from being a net importer to an emerging exporter of petroleum products,” Adeniyi added.
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For his part, Ukoha highlighted the long-standing cooperation between NMDPRA and Customs, noting that Operation Whirlwind has been the high point of the partnership. “Both agencies deployed personnel, exchanged intelligence, and jointly monitored petroleum products along border corridors. This has led to a marked reduction in cross-border diversion,” he said.
Ukoha explained that the purpose of the visit was to brief the Customs leadership on the newly developed guidelines for designating export points, which are critical as Nigeria’s refining capacity grows. He emphasized that the NMDPRA is engaging key institutions—including Customs, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and the Nigerian Navy—to ensure the guidelines reflect operational realities before implementation.
Reflecting on past successes, he recalled the joint launch of Operation Whirlwind in Yola, where both agencies reinforced their commitment to curbing diversion and securing the domestic fuel supply chain. He also noted that the removal of the fuel subsidy has significantly reduced the economic incentive for cross-border smuggling.
“The NMDPRA will continue to work closely with the Customs Service to sustain progress and ensure that petroleum exports are properly regulated without exposing the country to energy security risks,” Ukoha concluded.
As Nigeria moves toward becoming a net exporter of refined petroleum products, the strengthened partnership between NCS and NMDPRA demonstrates a concerted effort to safeguard domestic fuel supply, improve regulatory oversight, and ensure that the country’s energy resources are managed responsibly and transparently.
