Lubricant: DPR, stakeholders brainstorm on way to end illicit production

NAN-H-57
Meeting
By Usman Aliyu
Ilorin, Oct. 07, 2016 (NAN) Stakeholders in the lubricating oils industry on Friday converged in Ilorin to chart a way of ending illegal production and circulation of the petroleum product.
Mr Philip Salvation, Operation Controller, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Kwara, said the forum was convened to address proliferation and influx of illegal products in the industry.
He said that the meeting would provide concrete input towards actualising affirmative action that would give the best in the industry.
Salvation decried the flooding of off-specification lubricating oil in the market, adding that the DPR apprehended some illegal manufacturers last week in the state.
He said the DPR would provide licenses to any genuine lubricants manufacturer in order to ensure sanity in the sector.
Salvation said that most of the road-side lubricating oil sellers sold adulterated, substandard and fake lubricants without the knowledge of the public.
“We want to make sure that the threat to the survival of those licensed to operate as blenders is turned to opportunity.
“As the regulator of oil and gas, we are looking for a way to address illegal manufacturing of lubricants,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the DPR boss as saying.
The DPR boss, however, sought for an inter-agencies collaboration to have a robust lubricant industry in the state.
Participants at the session urged the DPR and other stakeholders to embark on massive enlightenment campaign against illicit production and distribution of the illegal product.
Mr Taiye Williams, the Managing Director of LUBCON, urged the DPR to issue certification number to each product of a lubricant company as done by NAFDAC to pharmaceutical products.
Williams also asked the DPR to equip itself with necessary equipment that would differentiate the original and off-specification lubricants.
He also advised the regulator to embark on a periodic raiding of wholesale outlets to serve as a check to their activities.
Mr Babalola Muideen of Ejide Energy called on the regulator to issue licenses to potential distributors of lubricants.
Muideen also urged the manufacturers to sell only to the accredited sales outlets.
According to him, 60 per cent of blending plants have closed down in Lagos as a result of illegal operation in the sub-sector.
NAN reports that participants also stressed the need for the regulatory agency to adequately sensitise the public on the evil of using base oil for automobile as against packaged lubricants. (NAN)
AUO/IS/WOJ
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(Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz and controlled by Wale Ojetimi)