The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) are intensifying efforts to prevent the diversion of petroleum products intended for domestic consumption, reinforcing Nigeria’s energy security.

The renewed partnership was highlighted during a meeting in Abuja between Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and NMDPRA Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure, Ogbugo Ukoha.

During the engagement, Adeniyi emphasized the Customs Service’s commitment to interagency cooperation to ensure that petroleum products meant for local use are not diverted to neighboring countries. He pointed out that previous collaboration, particularly through Operation Whirlwind, has already yielded measurable results, serving as a model for intelligence sharing, joint enforcement, and coordinated field operations.

“The Nigeria Customs Service remains aligned with ongoing reforms in the petroleum regulatory space. We continue to provide technical input, operational feedback, and border management expertise to support the implementation of new NMDPRA guidelines,” Adeniyi said. He commended NMDPRA for harmonizing legacy processes with the Petroleum Industry Act, stressing that clear and efficient export procedures are crucial as Nigeria transitions from a net importer to an emerging petroleum exporter.

He added, “We welcome initiatives that strengthen energy security and protect national interests, support legitimate trade, and maintain transparency. We will continue to collaborate closely with sister agencies to sustain these outcomes.”

In his remarks, Ukoha highlighted the longstanding, productive relationship between NMDPRA and Customs. He noted that Operation Whirlwind exemplifies their joint efforts, with personnel deployed along border corridors, intelligence exchanged, and petroleum products closely monitored—leading to a marked reduction in cross-border diversion.

Ukoha explained that the visit also served to brief the CGC on newly developed guidelines for designating export points for petroleum products, reflecting Nigeria’s expanding refining capacity. 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 are practical before implementation.

He further noted that the removal of fuel subsidies has reduced the economic incentive for smuggling, while enforcement operations remain central to curbing irregular movements of petroleum products. NMDPRA will continue working closely with Customs to ensure petroleum exports are regulated effectively without compromising the country’s energy security.