We can’t stabilise naira if smuggling continues – NSA

The National Security Adviser (NSA) Mal. Nuhu Ribadu has decried the rising trend of smuggling of petroleum products outside the country, adding that instability in the foreign exchange market will continue if it is not tackled.

Ribadu made the disclosure in Abuja on Monday at a stakeholder engagement on operation Whirlwind hosted by Nigeria Customs, which is targeted at tackling smuggling of petroleum products outside the country.

He said, “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.

“I don’t think there is any country that suffers from smuggling like Nigeria and we have to address it now because with the trouble we are going through, we can’t stabilize Naira and if we can’t stabilize Naira, then we are in trouble.”

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The NSA further revealed that his office will provide the necessary support needed for the Customs Service and other security agencies to tackle the current issue.

Also speaking, the National Coordinator, Operation Whirlwind, Comptroller Hussein Ejibunu stated that the programme started on May 28 2024 and officers of the Service swung into action in collaborating with NMDPR to assist with the implementing the assignment.

Speaking further, he said, “From May till date, the Customs has made about 27 seizures and detected smuggling networks in Badagry and Adamawa.

Other activities have also improved border security and we have succeeded in ensuring fuel smuggling is reduced. Our collaboration with NMDPRA has also been critical and germane. So far, we have seized 500,000 litres of PMS with 7 trucks amounting to 475m.

“The seizures were done in Kebbi, Sokoto, Lagos and Adamawa. We have opened other axis in Kwara, Niger, Katsina and Kano. Because of this work, most of our officers are on death threats including myself and they sent us messages to desist from fighting, but we won’t relate because we ought to fight and ensure survival of Nigeria,” he stated.

The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi stated that the stakeholders’ engagement was to nip smuggling in the bud.

“We won’t spare any effort in combating the menace and this explains why we launched Operations Whirlwind and we have made some progress.

“However, we need funding because we spend about N230 million monthly to sustain the operation and because it is not in our budget it is not sustainable and Customs may not be able to drive it alone. As such, we will need funding collaboration and we intend to sustain it till the end of the year,” he added.