NCS auctions 22,175 litres of seized fuel in Lagos

Tuesday, October 6, 2026 -The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday auctioned 22,175 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) intercepted by operatives of Operation Whirlwind along the Lagos-Ogun axis.

The National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller Abubakar Lucky Aliyu, announced this at the public auction at the Customs Training College, Lagos.

Aliyu, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the seized petrol was intercepted during operations targeted at disrupting the illegal movement and cross-border smuggling of petroleum products.

He said the seizures comprised 887 jerry cans, each containing 25 litres of PMS, and five means of conveyance.

According to him, the seizures were made at identified smuggling flashpoints including Imeko, Ilara, Ilaro, Idiroko and Seme-Badagry.

He put the combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized petroleum products and the means of conveyance at N32.175 million.

Aliyu said Operation Whirlwind was established to curb the illegal diversion and cross-border movement of petroleum products, while protecting Nigeria’s economic interests and energy security.

He said the seizures followed credible and actionable intelligence gathered by operatives of the anti-smuggling operation.

The national coordinator said the auction demonstrated the commitment of the Customs Service to transparency, accountability and prudent management of seized petroleum products in line with the laws and approved procedures.

He urged participants and stakeholders to adhere to the guidelines governing the auction to ensure a fair and transparent process.

Aliyu warned those involved in the illegal smuggling, diversion and cross-border movement of petroleum products to desist from the activities.

He said Operation Whirlwind would continue to identify and dismantle smuggling networks through intelligence-driven enforcement operations.

He appealed to residents of border communities to support the fight against smuggling by providing relevant information on suspicious activities.

Aliyu commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, management of the service, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for their support and collaboration.

He assured that the operation would strengthen surveillance, intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration and enforcement across its areas.