Business

Customs Operation Whirlwind Siezes Fuel Tankers Hand Over To NMDPRA, Auctions 1,275 Jerrycans

Published

3 months ago

February 27, 2026

The Operation Whirlwind ,a special unit of the Nigeria Customs service has again dealt a big blow on recalcitrant economic saboteurs who specialize on trans-border smuggling as its operatives last week intercepted four tankers laden with a combined 154,000 litres of Petroleum products,hand over to the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for appropriate sanctions.

The coordinator of the special unit, Deputy comptroller general,Lucky Aliyu speaking with journalists at the Customs Training College in Lagos on Friday, quoted the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi as saying that the intercepted tankers with capacities of 60,000, 49,000, and 45,000 litres respectively were seized for illegal diversion along the Owode Apa, Seme and Baragry axis.

Represented by the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller General, Lucky Aliyu, Adeniyi added that 1,630 jerry cans of 25 litres each amounting to 40,750 litres were also seized across notorious smuggling routes including Ado- Odo, Seme, Seme- Owode Apa, Ajilete, Ijoun, Iaro, Badagry, Idiroko, Eree and Imeko Axis within nine weeks. The products valued at N40, 750,000 were subsequently auctioned to members of the public.

“In a space of nine weeks, our operatives relentlessly intestified surveillance and enforcement operation across critical borders communities. As a result, a monumental volume of 1,630 jericans of 25 litres each of PMS yielding a total of 40,750 litres were seized across notorious smuggling routes including Ado- Odo, Seme, Seme- Owode Apa, Ajilete, Ijoun, Iaro, Badagry, Idiroko, Eree and Imeko Axis “The total duty paid value of intercepted 1,630 jericans litres each of PMS product is in the tune of N40,750,000, ” he said. Adeniyi emphasized that the operation is intelligence driven and aimed at safeguarding Nigeria’s energy security.

He explained that the transportation and movement of petroleum products are governed by a clearly defined regulation framework and standard operating procedure established to prevent diversion, smuggling, hoarding and economic sabotage.

“The items in question were found to have contravened the established SOP of Operation Whirlwind. Such violation undermines government policy, distorts market stability and deprives our nation of critical revenue.

The border corridors of Owode Apa, Seme and Baragry remain sensitive economic actors.

“These routes have historically been exploited by illegal cross-border petroleum movement.

However, let it be clearly stated, under our watch, there will be no safe haven for economic sabotage, ” he warned.

Adeniyi said the seized tankers were handed over to NMDPRA authority in line with established interagency collaboration for appropriate sanctions.

“This singular action underscores institutional synergy. While the Nigeria Customs Service enforces border control and smuggling mandate, NMDPRA regulates distribution and ensures compliance with the downstream state.

This collaboration ensures due process, transparency and regulates safety and integrity. “The public auction is in line with the regulatory procedure that demonstrates our commitment to accountability.

They are processed strictly in line with external law and guidelines, ” he said.

Adeniyi clarified that Operation WhirlWind is not against legitimate trade but against those who circumvent national laws for personal gains.

He lauded NMDPRA for their technical expertise, noting that their robust regulatory framework.ensures that enforcement actions align with global best practices while at the same time addressing systemic vulnerabilities within the petroleum distribution chain.

The Customs boss also commended operatives of Operation Whirlwind, attributing the success of the operation to their professionalism, vigilance, discipline and courage.

Earlier, the representative of NMDPRA, Mrs. Grace Dauda, said that the agency has the responsibility to ensure that petroleum products produced in the country are consumed here.

“It is unfortunate that some few businessmen, instead of ensuring that this product is consumed within Nigeria attempt to take it across neighboring countries.

It is in the light of this that the NMDPRA, in conjunction with the Nigeria Customs, the Office of the ONSA. and the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, have ensured that all products that is being attempted to be smuggled out of the country are intercepted,” she said.

By: Nkpemenyie mcdominic, Lagos

Business

Boat Mishap Kills Pastor, Wife And Church Members In Brass Water

Published

3 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

A boat accident in Bayelsa state has killed a serving Pastor, Wife and other church members along Brass waterways

The sad incident happened at Odioama in Brass local government area of Bayelsa State when the Pastor, wife and members of his church were in a programme.

?Tide confirmed that the lifeless body of the Pastor’s wife has been found and deposited in a mortuary while the remains of her husband ,the Pastor is yet to be recovered

as search party are still ongoing.

Although the real cause of the boat Mishap is not yet known as at the time of this report, our Correspondent gathered that the identities of the Pastor, wife and church members were not disclosed to the public.

The mishap, Tide gathered occurred on Friday morning when the church members were on a boat transit

The Bayelsa State government and the state police command are yet to issue official statement’s on the sad accident

By: CHINEDU WOSU

Business

Rivers Workers Seek Scrapping Of Contributory Pension Scheme

Published

3 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Council of Nigeria Civil Service Union has called on the State Government to urgently scrap the contributory pension scheme, describing it as unfavourable to long-serving civil servants in the state.

Chairman of the union, Chukwuka Osuma, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt, recently.

Osuma said the current pension structure has continued to worsen post-retirement hardship for workers.

He noted that the contributory pension scheme had failed to provide adequate retirement security for workers who had spent many years in service, especially those approaching retirement age.

According to him, civil servants who had served for more than 20 years were among the worst affected under the scheme, insisting that many retirees could no longer cope with prevailing economic realities.

He also informed that the Union has made moves to showcase their concerns, pleading with Governor Siminalayi Fubara to abolish the pension policy and introduce a more favourable arrangement for affected workers.

“The union was not opposed to pension reforms, the contributory scheme should only apply to newly employed workers or those with fewer years in service”, he said.

Osuma explained that workers who had already spent decades in the civil service ought to remain under a more secure pension structure capable of guaranteeing stability after retirement.

The labour leader further noted that inflation and the rising cost of living had continued to erode the value of retirement savings, thereby increasing the suffering of pensioners across the country.

He also appealed to the state government to consider extending the years of service in the civil service from 35 to 40 years and the retirement age from 60 to 65 years.

Osuma argued that such adjustment had become necessary in view of present-day economic realities and changing conditions in the workplace.

The unionist also reviewed that similar policies had already been adopted in some sectors and jurisdictions, expressing optimism that the State could also implement the reforms for the benefit of workers.

He however, commended Governor Fubara for approving an N85,000 minimum wage for workers in the state, noting that the amount was above the national benchmark of N70,000.

Osuma also acknowledged the government’s efforts in the area of workers’ promotions and bonuses, but insisted that pension reforms and extension of years of service remained critical to the long-term welfare and stability of civil servants in Rivers State.

By: King Onunwor

Business

FG Begins South-West Tour To Promote New Cooperative Bank

Published

1 week ago

May 13, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government has launched the South-West zonal engagement and ministerial advocacy tour on the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria share capital mobilisation, sensitisation and cooperative sector digitalisation.

Reports say the initiative was launched through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

According to reports, the advocacy tour, organised by the ministry’s Federal Department of Cooperatives, began on Monday in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, said the initiative was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Abdullahi described the exercise as a strategic effort to reposition the cooperative sector as a key driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity.

“Today represents a defining moment in our collective determination to reposition the cooperative sector as a major driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity,” he said.

The minister noted the modern cooperative movement in Nigeria originated in the South-West following the 1934 Strickland Report, which led to the enactment of the Cooperative Societies Ordinance of 1935.

According to him, the decision to commence the sensitisation and share capital mobilisation tour in the region is symbolic, as it marks a return to the roots of cooperative development in the country.

Abdullahi said the advocacy tour was a direct outcome of resolutions reached at the 8th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Cooperative Affairs held in Abuja in March 2026.

He said the council approved the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme, a comprehensive framework designed to strengthen the cooperative sector and align it with the administration’s goal of building a one-trillion-dollar economy.

“The reform programme focuses on seven strategic pillars, including governance reforms, cooperative financing and the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, digitalisation, capacity building, value chain development, inclusion of youths, women and persons with disabilities, and strategic partnerships,” he said.

He said the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria and the digitalisation of the cooperative sector were the two major transformational initiatives under the programme.

“The Cooperative Bank of Nigeria is aimed at rebuilding a strong cooperative financial system capable of supporting cooperators, farmers, artisans, traders, SMEs, youths, women and persons with disabilities with accessible and affordable financial services,” he said.

Abdullahi emphasised that the proposed bank would be government-enabled but not government-funded.

“Government is not establishing the bank as an owner, nor will it rely on Treasury Single Account funds.

“The role of government through the FMAFS is to provide policy support, stakeholder coordination, regulatory facilitation and an enabling environment under the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme,” he said.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to cooperative sector transformation.

She described cooperatives as critical tools for promoting inclusive growth, grassroots productivity, food security, financial inclusion and community wealth creation.

Ambrose-Medebem said Lagos State would continue to support reforms and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (2025–2030).

“Together, let us build a cooperative ecosystem that is modern, transparent, digitally enabled, financially inclusive and globally competitive.

“Let us build cooperatives that not only mobilise savings, but also mobilise prosperity,” she said.