licenses, shuts 6 retail outlets in Delta
NMDPRA tasks lubricant dealers on licenses, shuts 6 retail outlets in Delta The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has urged the Engine Lubricant Dealers (ELD) in Delta State to apply for their operating licenses.The NMDPRA Coordinator in Delta, Engr. Godwin Ikomi made the call on Monday, shortly after a surveillance exercise conducted by his team to Warri South and Uvwie Local Government Areas of the state.Ikomi, while addressing newsmen, said 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 ELD State’s Executives in Warri, on the need to obtain operating license.The meeting further cumulated 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”.The NMDPRA Coordinator said that, though, some of them had actually come forward to register.He, however, expressed hope that the surveillance would spur others to do same.”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.No fewer than six retail outlets were shut in the exercise for defaulting.
