The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has urged lubricant dealers in Delta State to obtain operating licences after shutting down six retail outlets during an enforcement exercise in Warri South and Uvwie Local Government Areas.
The authority said the move was part of ongoing efforts to enforce regulatory compliance, curb the sale of adulterated lubricants and protect consumers.
The warning followed a surveillance operation carried out on Monday in Warri and Uvwie, where officials sealed unlicensed roadside outlets and filling stations engaged in lubricant sales.
The exercise, conducted after months of public sensitisation, also saw the confiscation of equipment from defaulting operators.
Speaking after the operation, the NMDPRA State Coordinator, Godwin Ikomi, said the agency had given dealers about six months to regularise their operations but many failed to comply.
“We carried out surveillance on lubricant retailing activities. Before now, we shared fliers to people in filling stations and roadside outlets, notifying them to have their facilities licensed.
“Unfortunately, after about six months, they have not complied, hence we decided to confiscate and prosecute those selling lubricants illegally,” Ikomi said.
He explained that licensing would enable the authority to trace products from manufacturers to retailers, making it easier to investigate complaints and remove substandard products from the market.
Ikomi warned that the enforcement exercise would continue until all lubricant dealers complied with the licensing requirements.
“If you must sell lubricants, you must have the appropriate licence; otherwise, you will not be allowed to sell the products. We all know what bad or fake lubricants can cause,” he added.
The state coordinator also advised consumers to patronise only licensed outlets, warning that lubricants without manufacturers’ labels or proper certification posed significant risks to vehicle owners.
He said the crackdown was aimed at protecting legitimate producers, distributors and retailers while safeguarding the public from counterfeit and adulterated lubricants.