FG Launches Nationwide Crackdown on Oil, Gold Smugglers
The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched a major nationwide crackdown on syndicates involved in the smuggling of crude oil, refined petroleum products, and gold, as part of renewed efforts to curb economic sabotage and protect national resources.
The operation, coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other security agencies, targets criminal networks operating across Nigeria’s borders and inland routes.
According to a statement from the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the exercise follows intelligence reports linking several organized groups to large-scale smuggling and illegal exports, which have resulted in billions of naira in revenue losses and have undermined national economic stability.
“The Federal Government will not tolerate the theft of Nigeria’s natural resources. These criminal activities drain our economy, devalue our currency, and threaten national security. We are taking decisive action to dismantle every network involved,” Ribadu said.
The operation will reportedly cover key border corridors, including those in Niger, Zamfara, Katsina, Ogun, and Cross River States, where illegal trade routes have been identified. Surveillance and monitoring have also been intensified around ports, oil terminals, and mining zones.
Officials confirmed that the crackdown includes the deployment of drones and satellite monitoring systems to track illegal shipments and the use of mobile task forces to intercept smugglers in real time.
In a related move, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has vowed to strengthen oversight of the mining sector, particularly in gold-producing states, to curb illegal mining and enhance lawful exports through licensed operators.
“We are partnering with security agencies to identify and prosecute those funding illegal mining operations. Gold and other minerals must contribute to Nigeria’s development, not to criminal enterprises,” said Minister Dele Alake.
The Nigeria Customs Service also disclosed that it has seized several trucks and vessels suspected of carrying unregistered petroleum products and gold ore in recent weeks, with multiple arrests made.
Economic experts have welcomed the development, describing it as a bold step toward restoring accountability in the extractive sector, though they urged the government to ensure transparency and fair prosecution of offenders.
The crackdown is expected to run for several months, with the federal government pledging to publish regular updates on arrests, prosecutions, and recovered assets.
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