Petrol, or Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), is being smuggled from Nigeria to neighboring countries due to a significant price difference, with fuel in Nigeria being 58% cheaper than in neighboring nations.
As of now, petrol in the Republic of Benin is priced at Ceffa 600 per liter, equivalent to $0.97 or N1,649 per liter. In Ghana, it costs Ghc 14.35 per liter ($0.90 or N1,530), while in The Gambia, it’s D77.89 per liter ($1.09 or N1,853).
Reports indicate that smugglers use various methods such as waterways, borders, bottles, cans, and land routes to carry out illegal petroleum trade.
Abdullahi Maiwada, Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, confirmed to Vanguard News that smuggling persists. Over 10 trucks were seized between June 2024 and now as part of Operation Whirlwind, an initiative aimed at curbing petroleum product smuggling and diversion.
According to Customs, since June 2024, over 650,000 liters of PMS, including more than 10 trucks, have been seized in the efforts. Seventeen retail outlets linked to the smuggling were also shut down. The value of these seizures is estimated at N700 million, and operations have been carried out in border areas like Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Kebbi, Lagos, Ogun, and Sokoto states.
The report noted a significant rise in smuggling, particularly around Zone C, covering the South-South and South-East regions, due to terrain challenges, limited manpower, and logistics issues.
“Operation Whirlwind has made progress in fighting petrol smuggling and diversion. However, it faces ongoing challenges that require more support. Strengthening collaboration, improving intelligence sharing, and boosting enforcement efforts will help make Nigeria’s energy sector more secure and sustainable,” the Customs spokesperson said.
