The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has shut six retail outlets in Warri, Delta State .
Key Highlights
- NMDPRA sealed six lubricant retail outlets in Warri, Delta State, for operating without valid licences.
- The enforcement followed a surveillance exercise led by Delta State Coordinator Godwin Ikomi.
- The agency said operators had been given about six months to comply after extensive sensitisation campaigns.
- NMDPRA distributed over 1,000 flyers and used radio, television and social media to educate dealers on licensing requirements.
- Officials warned that the surveillance and enforcement exercise will continue until full compliance is achieved.
This followed a surveillance exercise conducted by a team of NMDPRA officials led by the agency’s Coordinator in Delta State, Godwin Ikomi.
Addressing newsmen during the exercise, Ikomi urged the engine lubricant dealers in the state to apply for their operating licenses, stressing that the surveillance operation would be an ongoing exercise until the operators fully complied.
It would be recalled that the NMDPRA had earlier in the year held an interactive meeting with the state’s executive committee of the dealers in Warri, on the need for their members to obtain their operating licenses.
The meeting further culminated to the distribution of flyers on how to go about the seamless license registration.
The state coordinator noted that appropriate licensing would enable the authority to track complaints from the producers’ end, to retailing, down to addressing the issues accordingly.
“We carried out surveillance on lubricants retailing activities. Before now, we have shared fliers to people in various filing stations that sell lubricants and roadside outlets, notifying them to have their facilities licensed.
“Unfortunately, after about six months, they have not been able to comply, hence we decided to carry out surveillance activities to confiscate and possibly prosecute those selling lubricants illegally.
“The surveillance is an ongoing exercise until we achieve our aims. Our team were assaulted and resisted in the field by the retailers, but we are not relenting
“If you must sell lubricants, you must have the appropriate license otherwise you will not be allowed to sell the products, We all know what bad or fake lubricants can cause,” he said.
Ikomi said that the directive was for the good of both the producers, distributors and the retailers of lubricant oil, “so that we can know those who are the genuine and those adulterating the lubricant”.
Whole acknowledging that some of them had actually come forward to register, the coordinator expressed hope that the surveillance would spur others to do same.
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“This surveillance is an opportunity for those who have not registered to come and register if they must sell lubricants either as a distributor or retailer,” he said.
Responding to questions on enlightenment, Ikomi said that the authority held its first meeting with the association, distributed over 1000 fliers, aired jingles in both radio, television and social media platforms to sensitise the operators.
The state coordinator advised consumers to buy lubricants from licensed outlets to avoid being victims of adulterated oil, stressing that products without manufacturers labels would not be tolerated.
He also advised the retailers to apply for their operating licenses if they must remain in the business of selling lubricants
The NMDPRA, however, urged the lubricant sellers to visit the authority’s office on the Warri/Sapele Road for guidance or visit it’s portal: www.lssl.nmdpra.gov.ng to register.
