The Nigeria Customs Service, Operation Whirlwind, has said that the unit remains resolute on its mission to rid the downstream sector of sharp practices.
According to a statement over the weekend, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Kola Oladeji, stated this when he handed over a sealed fuel station along the Owode-Apa axis in the Badagry area of Lagos to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority over allegations of smuggling petroleum products across the Nigeria–Benin border to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
Oladeji explained that the facility was sealed earlier in the month following the infractions on illegal trade in petroleum products.
PUNCH reported that Operation Whirlwind, earlier in October, said it had sealed a filling station in Lagos State over alleged involvement in petrol smuggling.
According to the report, the filling station, located in the Owode-Apa area of Badagry, was sealed by customs officials attached to Operation Whirlwind Zone A as part of efforts to curb the illicit trade.
Fuel smuggling results in a loss of government revenue (duties and taxes) and disrupts the domestic supply, occasionally leading to shortages and price distortions.
Oladeji also said that the unit “remains resolute on its mission to rid the downstream sector of sharp practices.”
According to him, the investigation revealed that infractions inconsistent with the standards and regulations governing petroleum retail operations in Nigeria were committed by the operators of the fuel station.
“It is with a deep sense of duty and commitment to national service that I formally hand over the sealed filling station identified as Adeola Ade PLC, located along Owode-Apa Road, Badagry, Lagos State, to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority for further regulatory action and sanction. This facility was sealed by the operatives of Operation Whirlwind on the 4th of October, 2025, following credible intelligence and a thorough investigation that revealed infractions inconsistent with the standards and regulations governing petroleum retail operations in Nigeria. Our operatives, acting within the ambit of the law and guided by our mandate to sanitise the downstream sector, executed the sealing in a professional and transparent manner,” Oladeji said.
He reiterated that the unit remains resolute in its mission to rid the sector of sharp practices, protect consumers, and uphold the integrity of our national energy infrastructure.
“However, we recognise that enforcement is a shared responsibility. As such, we now hand over this facility to the NMDPRA, the statutory body empowered to investigate, sanction, and ensure compliance with industry regulations. We trust that the authority will carry out its mandate with fairness, diligence, and in accordance with due process. Let this handover serve as a clear message to all operators in the sector: non-compliance will not be tolerated, and collaboration among agencies will continue to strengthen enforcement,” he stated.
Earlier, the head of Retail Infrastructure, NMDPRA, Ivy Agbenselugbo, said, “We look forward to strengthening our partnership through intelligence sharing, operational synergy, and improved environmental safeguards.”
Operation Whirlwind is a special anti‑smuggling initiative of the Nigeria Customs Service. Its main goal is to address the growing menace of petroleum product smuggling, hoarding and associated economic sabotage.
This operation aligns with the broader efforts of the Federal Government to ensure transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the downstream oil sector, protect national resources, and ensure that petroleum products are available and affordable for Nigerians.
The operation works closely with the Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Office of the National Security Adviser, among others. Smuggling of fuel means loss of government revenue (duty, taxes) and undermines domestic supply, sometimes causing shortages and price distortions.
