Smuggling ‘Cancer’ threatens Nigeria’s economic stability – NSA
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has expressed deep concern over the escalating issue of petroleum product smuggling across Nigeria’s borders, warning that the nation’s economic stability is at risk if immediate actions are not taken. Ribadu emphasised that the Nigerian currency, the Naira, cannot be stabilised if the smuggling trend persists.
Speaking on Monday in Abuja at a stakeholder meeting focused on Operation Whirlwind, a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Nigeria Customs Service to curb petroleum smuggling, Ribadu revealed the severity of the situation. He described smuggling as a “cancer” that is rapidly eroding the nation’s economic and security structures.
“We have been suffering due to smuggling, and if we want to address our economic problems, smuggling has to stop. It is difficult because it is like cancer and eats up everything. It destroys us and even our security forces because of the very few individuals making profit from it, and half of them are not even Nigerians,” Ribadu stated.
He further pointed out that Nigeria is particularly vulnerable to this issue, more than any other country, and that the economic troubles caused by smuggling will continue to hinder any efforts to stabilise the Naira. “If we can’t stabilise the Naira, then we are in trouble,” he added.
The NSA assured the audience that his office would provide the necessary support to the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies to combat the growing crisis.
Operation Whirlwind, launched on May 28, 2024, has already made significant strides in curbing smuggling activities. The programme’s National Coordinator, Comptroller Hussein Ejibunu, highlighted the collaborative efforts between the Customs Service and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). Since its inception, the operation has led to 27 seizures and uncovered smuggling networks in regions such as Badagry and Adamawa.
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“In collaboration with the NMDPRA, we have seized over 500,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and confiscated seven trucks, with a total value of ₦475 million,” Ejibunu stated. These seizures were made in Kebbi, Sokoto, Lagos, and Adamawa, with new operational axes opening in Kwara, Niger, Katsina, and Kano.
Ejibunu also revealed that the fight against smuggling has led to death threats against Customs officers, including himself. Despite these threats, he affirmed that the battle to secure Nigeria’s economic future must continue.
The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, echoed these sentiments, stating that stakeholder engagements like this are vital to nipping smuggling in the bud. However, he raised concerns over the financial sustainability of Operation Whirlwind.
“We are currently spending about ₦230 million monthly to sustain this operation, and it is not included in our budget. This is why we need funding collaboration to keep it running until the end of the year,” Adeniyi concluded.
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