The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has urged the Engine Lubricant Dealers (ELD) in Delta to apply for their operating licenses.
The NMDPRA Coordinator in Delta, Mr Godwin Ikomi, made the call on Monday, shortly after a surveillance exercise conducted by his team in the Warri South and Uvwie Local Government Areas of the state.
Addressing newsmen, Ikomi emphasized that the surveillance operation would be an ongoing exercise until the operators fully complied.
themomentng recalls that the NMDPRA had earlier in the year held an interactive meeting with the ELD State’s executives in Warri on the need to obtain an operating license.
The meeting further culminated in the distribution of flyers on how to go about the seamless license registration.
The 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 with people in various filling 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.
According to Ikomi, the directive is meant to protect producers, distributors, and retailers and to distinguish genuine lubricants from adulterated ones.
The NMDPRA coordinator noted that some had registered and expressed hope that ongoing surveillance would compel others to comply.
Responding to questions on enlightenment, Ikomi said the Authority held its first meeting with the Association and distributed over 1000 fliers; aired jingles on both radio, television, and social media platforms to sensitize 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 retailers to apply for their operating licenses if they must remain in the business of selling lubricants.
themomentng reports that no fewer than six retail outlets were shut in the exercise for defaulting.
