From left: The NSA, Nuhu Ribadu in a warm handshake with the Customs CG, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR.

The National Security Adviser NSA, to the president, Nuhu Ribadu, has commended the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service NCS, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, for his commitment to enhance surveillance across Nigeria’s borders to curb petroleum products smuggling.

Meanwhile critical stakeholders in the country’s oil and gas sector as well as those within the security architecture have signed a pact, which outlines measures to be adopted to drastically curb the worsening smuggling of refined petroleum products across the country’s borders.

Speaking during a high-level security stakeholders’ meeting Monday, 9 September 2024, at the NSA office in Abuja, Ribadu reminded participants that the main objective of the meeting was to address the recurring challenge of petroleum smuggling, which threatens Nigeria’s economy and national security.

In his opening remarks, Ribadu lauded the efforts of the Nigeria Customs Service under Adeniyi’s leadership, highlighting the agency’s role in not only securing the country’s borders but also safeguarding the integrity of the economy.

He described petroleum smuggling as a “cancer that kills”, stating that it drains vital resources needed for national development and undermines government revenue.

The NSA however, stressed that the nation’s security apparatus must agree to work together to tackle the smuggling menace, which, according to him, will continue to destabilise the oil sector and foster illegal activities across the country’s borders if not properly addressed.

He also appreciated the strong presence of key stakeholders, including representatives from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority NMDPRA, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited NNPCL, and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria IPMAN among others.

Meanwhile, Comptroller-General of Customs, while speaking at the meeting emphasised the commitment of the Service to fulfilling its legal mandate, especially in light of the new Customs Act 2023, which, empowers the agency to enforce strict measures against smuggling activities across the country.

Adeniyi, who also acknowledged the complexity of petroleum products smuggling, reiterated the Customs Service’s resolve to address the challenge, pointing to recent operations, led by Comptroller Ejibunu, which were aimed at dismantling smuggling syndicates.

“What we are doing here today is a clear demonstration of the good intentions of the Office of the National Security Adviser, which has provided us with a platform to mount and execute special operations against smuggling.

“The repositioning of Nigeria’s economy and the oil sector is a crucial objective, and as an organisation, the Nigeria Customs Service is ready to play its role in achieving this”, CGC Adeniyi said.

He explained that the Service is leveraging innovative technologies to enhance border security, stating that “One key initiative is the integration of real-time monitoring systems, similar to those used by United Arab Emirates UAE Customs, which have successfully employed blockchain technology to track and authenticate oil and gas movements.”

He also urged stakeholders to focus on transparency and accountability throughout the petroleum supply chain. He acknowledged that smuggling is driven by factors beyond the Customs Service’s control, but pledged that the NCS would not relent in its efforts to clamp down on the illegal trade.

“We remain committed to ensuring that legitimate businesses thrive, while at the same time, we will not hesitate to suppress any form of illegitimate activities in the petroleum sector,” Adeniyi said.

On his part, Comptroller Hussein Ejibunu, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, emphasised the need for stronger inter-agency collaboration, noting that anti-smuggling efforts require the combined strength of various government agencies, including the NCS, NMDPRA, NNPC Ltd., and security services.

Comptroller Ejibunu, who acknowledged the financial burden associated with conducting the operations, also called for an increase in funding and allocation of vehicles to the operatives of Operation Whirlwind.

The stakeholders, on their part, all agreed to show commitment to eliminating petroleum smuggling and securing Nigeria’s borders, stating, “We all dissociated ourselves from anything smuggling, and we’re in support of this operation, Operation Whirlwind.”

Meanwhile, National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, while announcing the closure of the meeting, said a joint communique has been signed, as he further read some new resolutions that will set the ball rolling in terms of fighting against smuggling.

The NPRO disclosed that a highpoint of the meeting was the signing of a joint communique by NSA Ribadu, Comptroller-General Adeniyi, and other key representatives, including officials from NNPC Limited, NMDPRA, and IPMAN.

It was gathered that the joint communique outlined a series of resolutions aimed at curbing petroleum smuggling, which will go a long way in protecting the country’s economic wellbeing.