The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority ( NMDPRA) on Wednesday, convened a workshop of stakeholders aimed at sensitising and brainstorming with them on the guidelines for the importation of lubricants into Nigeria.
In his opening remarks, the Chief Executive, Engr. Farouk Ahmed, represented by the Director, Public Affairs, Dr. Francis Ogara, charged stakeholders on the need to ensure that the importation of lubricants meet all safety standards.
“This workshop is not just another meeting; it is a vital platform for dialogue, learning, and alignment. Together, we are taking a significant step toward building a more transparent, efficient, and quality-driven lubricant importation process—one that reflects the shared vision of a more resilient and self-sufficient petroleum industry in Nigeria.
“As many of you are aware, the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 mandates the NMDPRA to ensure that all petroleum products, including lubricants, meet strict quality and safety standards. We take this responsibility seriously as poor-quality lubricants do more than damage engines—they damage trust, hurt productivity, and create unnecessary economic waste,” he emphasised.
He said that a tool has been designed to simplify the importation process noting that the authority is working closely with the Nigerian Customs service to achieve seamless, real-time deliveries.
“That is why today’s workshop focuses on the rollout of the Lubricant Importation Module on the Lube Oil Blending Plant (LOBP) Portal—a tool designed to simplify the application, approval, and monitoring process for lubricant imports. This digital platform is integrated with the Nigeria Customs Service BÓdugwu platform, ensuring seamless import clearance, real-time data tracking, and improved compliance enforcement.”
According to him, this initiative would ensure faster transactions and transparency of the process.
“This means faster approvals, better transparency, and clearer expectations and for the local producers, this enhanced oversight will help identify products that can and should be produced locally giving your businesses more room to grow in a level playing field’’.
‘’And for all industry players, it means improved accountability and shared responsibility for upholding the integrity of the Nigerian market,’’ he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Authority Engr. Farouk added that this initiative is not designed to restrict trade, rather, it is meant to strengthen the industry, ensure only high-quality products circulate in the market, and align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s industrialization agenda to reduce over-reliance on imports and promote local capacity.
The leadership of the Lubricant Association of Nigeria LUPAN, represented by its National Chairman, Alhaji Ado Mustapha Mohammed, however urged the Authority to thread with caution as this initiative may be counter productive . He said that local producers of lubricants have the capacity to produce enough lubricants if the federal government could give them enabling atmosphere and incentives to carry out their business.
“The policy will sound a death to the entire existing plants in the country who are currently producers below 30% of installed capacities.
“It will kill the growth recorded in the last few years in the sector, and set back the lubricant policy of the Federal Government, which is currently being perfected by the federal ministry of Industry Trade and Investment.
‘’The Implementation will dissuade more investment in the lubricant Industry.
“We have a capacity far above National demand and even export, but currently being idled because of the influx of finished products’’ he emphasised.
The Comptroller General of Nigerian Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, represented by Assistant Comptroller General, Umar Aliyu, said low quality lubricants in the country has affected production through incessant break down of machineries and therefore, what NMDPRA is doing is in line with the local content initiative which is good for the economy.
“One of the mandates of the Nigerian Customs Service is to implement government fiscal policies and also we are in the forefront when it comes to customs clearance. And one of the regulatory agencies that has settled with the responsibility of the item of import, we are talking about lubricant here, is this agency so it’s part of the permit that all the stakeholders that are involved in this industry can look at. And the sensitization that is going on now within the stakeholders is one of the key aspects,” he said.
Present at the workshop were independent lubricant producers, major energy marketing companies, industrial consumers, manufacturers and those who trade or import lubricants into Nigeria.
Hauwa Abu