Customs, NMDPRA Strengthen Alliance to Curb Fuel Diversion, Back New Export Point Guidelines
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) have stepped up collaborative efforts to clamp down on the diversion of petroleum products meant for domestic consumption, as part of broader measures to safeguard Nigeria’s energy security.
This renewed inter-agency commitment was underscored during a high-level 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.
At the meeting, CGC Adeniyi reaffirmed the Customs Service’s resolve to deepen cooperation with the petroleum regulator, particularly in ensuring that refined petroleum products intended for the Nigerian market are not illegally diverted across the country’s borders.
He stressed that effective collaboration between regulatory and enforcement agencies remains critical to protecting national interests and maintaining domestic energy stability.
The Customs boss noted that joint initiatives between both agencies had already yielded tangible results, citing Operation Whirlwind as a standout example of successful inter-agency synergy.
He described the operation as a model framework for intelligence sharing, coordinated enforcement actions and joint field deployments, which have significantly curtailed cross-border diversion of fuel.
According to Adeniyi, the NCS is fully aligned with ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s petroleum regulatory environment and is committed to supporting the implementation of new policies being developed by the NMDPRA.
He said Customs would continue to provide technical expertise, operational feedback and border management insights to ensure the effectiveness of the emerging guidelines.
He also commended the Authority for its efforts to harmonise existing operational processes with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), noting that clear and efficient export point procedures are increasingly important as Nigeria transitions from a net importer of petroleum products to an emerging exporter.
“We welcome every initiative that strengthens energy security and ensures that the gains made in reducing cross-border diversion are not reversed,” Adeniyi said. “Our shared responsibility is to protect the 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.”
In his response, NMDPRA Executive Director, Mr Ogbugo Ukoha, described the relationship between the Authority and the Nigeria Customs Service as longstanding and productive, adding that Operation Whirlwind represented the peak of that collaboration.
He explained that the joint initiative involved the deployment of personnel, intelligence exchange and coordinated monitoring of petroleum product movements along key border corridors, leading to a marked decline in cross-border diversion.
Ukoha said the visit was primarily to brief the CGC on newly developed guidelines for the designation of petroleum export points, in anticipation of increased local refining capacity across the country.
He disclosed that the NMDPRA is consulting widely with critical stakeholders, including the Nigeria Customs Service, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and the Nigerian Navy, to ensure that the guidelines are practical and reflective of on-ground operational realities.
He recalled several joint field operations and strategic engagements with Customs leadership, including the official launch of Operation Whirlwind in Yola, where both agencies reiterated their shared determination to curb fuel diversion and secure the domestic petroleum supply chain.
Ukoha further observed that while enforcement actions had played a significant role in reducing irregular movements of petroleum products, the removal of fuel subsidy had also contributed to dampening the economic incentives that previously fuelled cross-border smuggling.
According to him, the NMDPRA remains committed to sustaining the gains achieved so far through continuous collaboration with the Customs Service, ensuring that petroleum exports are properly regulated without exposing the country to energy security vulnerabilities.
Both agencies expressed confidence that sustained cooperation, clear regulatory frameworks and effective enforcement would help Nigeria balance the twin objectives of encouraging legitimate petroleum exports and protecting domestic supply in the evolving energy landscape.
