…As Operation Whirlwind Hands Over Sealed Petrol Station to NMDPRA
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the nation’s energy infrastructure, in line with the Nigeria Customs Service Act and existing petroleum sector regulations.
Speaking during the official handover of a sealed petrol station to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) on Friday, 24 October 2025, the Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG) Kola Oladeji, described petroleum sector enforcement as a shared national responsibility.
“I stand before you today, as directed by the Comptroller-General of Customs, to formally hand over the sealed filling station identified as Adeola Ade Plc, located along Owode-Apa Road, Badagry, Lagos State, to the NMDPRA for further regulatory actions,” Oladeji said.
He revealed that the facility, sealed on 4 October 2025, was found to be operating in violation of standards and regulations governing petroleum retail operations in Nigeria.
“This handover sends a clear message to economic saboteurs that both government agencies remain resolute in sustaining enforcement against non-compliance within the petroleum downstream sector,” he added.
The ACG commended the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), led by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for its strategic role in intelligence gathering and policy coordination in support of national energy security.
On her part, the Head of Retail Infrastructure, NMDPRA, Ivy Agbenselugbo, noted that fuel smuggling and diversion not only cause significant revenue losses but also pose serious environmental risks.
“We recognise the effects of this challenge and require collaborative efforts with all stakeholders, including Customs, to tackle petrol diversion. We look forward to strengthening our partnership through intelligence sharing, operational synergy, and improved environmental safeguards,” she said.
The event concluded with the formal signing of handover documents, symbolising the renewed commitment of both agencies to partnership, regulatory integrity, and the sanitisation of the petroleum downstream sector.
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