The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), through Operation Whirlwind, has handed over a truck loaded with 60,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for further regulatory action.
The handover ceremony took place on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at the Kebbi Area Command Headquarters, Birnin Kebbi. The event was coordinated by the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Kola Oladeji, National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, who was ably represented by the Customs Area Controller, Kebbi Command, Comptroller Mahmoud Matawalle Ibrahim (fdc).
The truck, with registration number NSR26ZL, was suspected of diversion and subsequently detained by officers of the Command pending investigation. According to Comptroller Matawalle, findings revealed that the product was originally designated for delivery in Borno State but was diverted under suspicious circumstances.
Comptroller Matawalle explained that the exercise was in line with the directive of the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind to enhance inter-agency cooperation, promote transparency and accountability, and ensure proper handling, investigation, and disposal of petroleum products intercepted during enforcement operations.
Receiving the consignment on behalf of the NMDPRA, Deputy Manager, Mr. Adamu Jamilu, who represented the State Coordinator for Sokoto and Kebbi States, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its continued vigilance and collaboration under Operation Whirlwind.
Mr. Jamilu recalled that the NMDPRA had earlier received two trucks containing 105,000 litres of PMS handed over by the Customs Service in Sokoto on October 17, 2025, describing the sustained cooperation as a model of inter-agency synergy in curbing illegal petroleum product diversion.
The event was attended by Deputy Comptroller of Customs Ntongha Okoi Edet, Commander Zone B, Operation Whirlwind, along with senior management officers from both the NCS and NMDPRA.
The ceremony concluded with the physical handover of the truck and relevant documentation at the Kebbi Command headquarters.
