The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over two tanker trucks conveying suspected diverted Jet A1 aviation fuel to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in Kano for investigation.
The move is part of the Nigerian Government’s efforts to combat petroleum diversion and safeguard the nation’s energy security.
The handover took place in Kano following the interception of the trucks along Zaria Road on July 2, 2026, after intelligence reports indicated that the petroleum products had been diverted from their approved destinations.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abubakar Aliyu, said the action underscored the Service’s determination to curb petroleum diversion, safeguard national assets and strengthen collaboration with regulatory and security agencies.
He explained that the two tankers, bearing registration numbers DKA 280 XY and T17411 LA, were conveying suspected diverted Jet A1 fuel originally scheduled for delivery to aviation fuel depots serving the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, according to the NMDPRA truck manifest.
Aliyu said intelligence gathered by Customs operatives raised suspicion over the movement of the products, leading to their interception for further investigation.
The National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller of Customs, described the diversion of petroleum products as a serious economic crime capable of undermining Nigeria’s energy security, disrupting supply chains and depriving the government of much-needed revenue.
“Today’s handover underscores the unwavering commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to protecting Nigeria’s strategic petroleum resources and strengthening inter-agency collaboration in the fight against economic sabotage,” he said.
Aliyu noted that Operation Whirlwind was established to combat the illegal diversion, smuggling and cross-border trafficking of petroleum products, adding that intelligence-led enforcement operations would continue across the country.
“Fuel diversion is not merely an economic offence; it is an act of sabotage against national development, a threat to aviation safety and a direct attack on Nigeria’s economic stability and energy security,” he stated.
He warned individuals and criminal syndicates involved in petroleum diversion that security agencies would intensify surveillance and enforcement operations to ensure offenders were brought to justice.
“The era of impunity is over. We will continue to deploy intelligence, surveillance and strategic partnerships to dismantle criminal networks involved in petroleum-related economic crimes,” Aliyu declared.
The Customs official also commended the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Customs personnel and the NMDPRA for their collaboration in safeguarding the nation’s petroleum supply chain.
Receiving the tankers on behalf of the NMDPRA, the Authority’s representative, Grace Dauda, described petroleum smuggling and illegal diversion as serious threats to Nigeria’s economy and national security.
She said every litre of petroleum diverted from the domestic supply chain represented a loss of national wealth and undermined efforts to ensure adequate product availability across the country.
“Every litre diverted represents a loss of national wealth and opportunities for economic development. It also creates artificial scarcity, distorts petroleum distribution statistics and encourages organised criminal activities,” Dauda said.
She explained that the NMDPRA had been working closely with the Nigeria Customs Service by providing truck loading manifest data, enabling both agencies to monitor petroleum movements and detect irregularities.
Dauda urged petroleum marketers and transporters to comply fully with regulatory requirements by ensuring that products reached their declared destinations.
“Protecting petroleum products from illegal diversion is a shared responsibility. Every operator must conduct business within the regulatory framework, and anyone found violating the rules will face the appropriate fines and penalties,” she said.
She reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to supporting legitimate business activities while enforcing regulations to preserve the integrity of Nigeria’s petroleum distribution network.
The handover forms part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to combat petroleum smuggling, eliminate supply chain leakages and strengthen the country’s energy security through enhanced collaboration among security and regulatory agencies.
