(DDM) — The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) have announced a renewed joint offensive to curb the diversion of petroleum products, as concerns grow over fuel smuggling and threats to national energy security.
The development was disclosed on Monday, December 15, 2025, in Abuja, during a high-level inter-agency meeting involving senior officials of both organisations, aimed at strengthening enforcement, intelligence sharing, and regulatory compliance across Nigeria’s fuel supply chain.
Officials said the collaboration is designed to tackle persistent fuel diversion, which has continued to undermine government reforms in the downstream petroleum sector.
Fuel diversion, often linked to smuggling across Nigeria’s borders, has remained a major challenge despite the removal of fuel subsidies and ongoing sector reforms.
According to officials, smuggling syndicates exploit price differentials between Nigeria and neighbouring countries, diverting petrol and other petroleum products meant for domestic consumption.
The Nigeria Customs Service stated that fuel diversion not only drains national resources but also contributes to artificial scarcity, long queues, and price instability across the country.
Customs authorities revealed that several seizures of illegally diverted petroleum products have been recorded in border communities over the past months.
The NMDPRA, which regulates Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum operations, said closer cooperation with Customs would improve monitoring from depots to retail outlets.
Officials explained that the partnership will focus on tracking product movement, strengthening border surveillance, and enforcing penalties against offenders.
Background records show that fuel diversion has long plagued Nigeria’s energy sector, even before subsidy removal, costing the country billions of naira annually.
Analysts note that smuggling thrived under the subsidy regime, but diversion has persisted due to weak enforcement and organised criminal networks.
The NMDPRA said new digital tracking systems and improved data sharing will be deployed to monitor fuel distribution nationwide.
Customs officers will also receive updated intelligence support to identify illegal routes and storage facilities used by smugglers.
The agencies emphasized that the collaboration aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader economic and energy reform agenda.
They stressed that safeguarding petroleum products is essential to stabilising the economy, protecting consumers, and ensuring fair market pricing.
Officials warned marketers, transporters, and depot operators against engaging in sharp practices, stating that violators will face prosecution.
They added that joint task forces will be deployed to key border corridors and high-risk zones across the country.
The agencies also pledged to work closely with security forces and state governments to dismantle fuel diversion networks.
Energy experts have welcomed the move, describing inter-agency cooperation as critical to solving long-standing structural problems in the sector.
However, they cautioned that success will depend on sustained political will, transparency, and accountability within enforcement agencies.
Civil society groups have also called for public reporting mechanisms to enable citizens report suspicious fuel movements.
The Customs Service assured Nigerians that the renewed collaboration would be continuous, not symbolic.
The NMDPRA said protecting Nigeria’s energy supply is a shared responsibility that requires coordination across institutions.
As fuel remains central to transportation, industry, and household survival, authorities insist that curbing diversion is no longer optional.
With the joint strategy now activated, Nigerians will be watching closely to see whether the alliance delivers lasting relief from fuel-related disruptions.