Story by Dili Utomi .
The management of the Nigeria Customs Service under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi (PhD) about 2 years ago thought it wise to constitute a Unit solely responsible for a peculiar area of anti-smuggling activities-fuel smuggling. This Unit is known as the Operation Whirlwind
This concept was though initially greeted with an understandable level of scepticism as people asked what the job of the various area Commands and Units would then be. The idea has since crystallised into the vibrant Unit that has over time vigorously been engaging economic saboteurs, the kind that specialise in the notorious trade or is it art of fuel smuggling.
The man who headed the Unit at inception has retired and the new helmsman, Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Abubakar Lucky Aliyu with his lieutenants have upped the anté and are presently hitting these saboteurs where it hurts them the most- their pockets.
A press briefing was held today at the Customs Training School Ikeja, Lagos where the most recent seizures that were made by the Unit were displayed. The Coordinator of the Unit used the opportunity to detail some of their activities so far.
DC Aliyu in his speech stated that “It is with a deep sense of duty, transparency, and commitment to national interest that I stand before you today on the occasion of the handing over and auctioning process of three fuel tankers intercepted along the Owode Apa, Seme, and Badagry Axis. These tankers, bearing registration numbers T 21019 LA, T 9827 LA, and T 3546 LA, were laden with petroleum products in volumes of 60,000 liters and 45,000 liters respectively”.
He added that within a space of nine weeks, their operatives relentlessly intensified surveillance and enforcement operations across critical border communities. As a result, a monumental volume of 1,630 Jerry-cans of 25 litres each of PMS yielding total volume of 40,750 litres, across notorious smuggling routes including Ado-Odo, Seme, Owode-Apa, Ajilete, Ijoun, Ilaro, Badagry, Idiroko. Eree, and Imeko axis were seized.
The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the intercepted 1,630 Jerry cans of 25 litres each of premium motor spirit products is to the tune of ₦40,750,000.00 (Forty Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira Only).
The transportation and movement of petroleum products are governed by clearly defined regulatory frameworks and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) established to prevent diversion, smuggling, hoarding, and economic sabotage. The items in question were found to have contravened the established SOP of Operation Whirlwind. Such violations are considered to undermine government policy, distort market stability, and deprive Nigeria of critical revenue hence the arrest and seizure.
In the spirit of Inter-agency cooperation and the Unit’s operational mandate, pursuant to established inter-agency collaboration frameworks, the seized items were formally handed over to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for appropriate sanctions.
The Operation Whirlwind Coordinator informs the public that “Operation Whirlwind is not against legitimate trade. We are against economic sabotage. We are not against transporters. We are against violators of national law. Petroleum products are strategic commodities, Given their volatile nature and their impact on national revenue and energy stability, strict compliance is non-negotiable”.
His words “Every liter diverted illegally is a blow to our economy, our security, and the welfare of our citizens”.
DC Aliyu commends the CGC for his untiring support, the efforts of the NMDPRA, the office of the national security adviser and the press, he appealed to the public saying “we urge cooperation. Economic security is a collective responsibility, If you see something suspicious, say something. National development thrives when citizens and enforcement agencies work hand in hand”.
Nigerians are expecting that the momentum with which this Unit is tackling economic sabotage is sustained and that smuggling activities, especially the kind that engages in fuel smuggling is brought to the barest minimum.
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