The Nigeria Customs Service has auctioned approximately 128,050 litres of smuggled Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) through its Operation Whirlwind between February and November 2026. According to The Punch, these sales occurred across six distinct public auction exercises held in locations including Lagos and Calabar. The initiative targets the illegal movement of petroleum products across Nigeria’s borders to protect national economic interests and energy security.
The first major auction took place in February, where officials sold 1,630 jerrycans, each containing 25 litres, totaling 40,750 litres. These units were seized over nine weeks from notorious smuggling routes such as Ado-Odo, Seme, Badagry, and Idiroko. Deputy Comptroller-General Lucky Aliyu, representing Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi at the Customs Training College in Ikeja, stated that the duty-paid value of this specific seizure was N40,750,000. He noted that the action underscores institutional synergy between border control and regulatory bodies.
Subsequent auctions continued throughout the year. In March, the service sold 14,875 litres of PMS valued at N14.875 million following interceptions along the Lagos/Ogun border axis. Later that same month, Aliyu announced the auction of an additional 14,375 litres seized from smugglers attempting to export fuel to Cameroon. This second March sale involved 235 jerrycans and 40 drums, with Aliyu stating in Calabar that the products were diverted in clear violation of Nigerian laws governing petroleum distribution.
Further operations in July resulted in the auction of 20,500 litres of PMS seized in Lagos. Aliyu reported that operatives dismantled a network involved in illegal exports, seizing five vehicles alongside the fuel. The combined duty-paid value of the petroleum and vehicles was estimated at N38 million. The final reported auction occurred in October, where 22,175 litres of intercepted PMS were sold to the general public. The Punch notes that these figures represent the totality of publicly reported auction volumes and may not reflect the complete national total of seized fuel.
Throughout these events, officials emphasized that the public auctions are conducted in strict accordance with extant laws and regulatory guidelines. The Nigeria Customs Service maintains that these measures are essential for safeguarding critical national assets and combating economic sabotage. The collaboration with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority is cited as a key factor in ensuring due process and transparency during the disposal of seized goods.