To enhance transparency, accountability and efficiency in crude oil and petroleum exports, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) on Wednesday issued fresh guidelines for advanced cargo declaration in the oil industry.
The Commission said the new guidelines issued under the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Advance Cargo Declaration Regulation, 2024, were designed to establish a robust framework for declaring and tracking crude oil and petroleum product exports from Nigeria.
Also, the guidelines would help in monitoring and accounting for the movement of crude oil within the country, preventing disruptions, theft and under-declaration at export terminals.
Again, the guidelines would ensure that only certified and measured products are exported from the country, supporting accurate revenue generation for the government from the sector.
The Commission Chief Executive, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, who endorsed the revised guidelines on Tuesday, said the new regulations were applicable a to all licences and leases granted or preserved under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
He said this would cover crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids and petroleum products exported from all crude oil terminals and export points in Nigeria.
Under the revised regime, Mr Komolafe said exporters must obtain an export permit, vessel clearance and a Unique Identification Number (UIN) through the NUPRC’s online platforms before any shipment.
The Commission, he said, would validate the identity of exporters and verify export volumes before issuing clearance notifications to be embedded with a UIN for tracking.
“All relevant export documents, including the Bill of Lading, Certificate of Origin and cargo manifest, must reference the UIN, ensuring traceability and compliance,” the CCE said.
The NUPRC’s Advance Cargo Declaration Portal is a real-time, technology-driven system that integrates seamlessly with other government export systems, allowing for real-time tracking and reconciliation of crude oil exports, immediate upload of export documentation within 24 hours of cargo loading and enhanced data integrity and transparency across the export chain.
The guidelines empower the NUPRC to refuse vessel clearance applications that are incomplete, inadequately documented, or contain false information.
Exporters found to violate the guidelines may face administrative fines and sanctions, reinforcing the Commission’s commitment to regulatory compliance and sector integrity.
Engr. Komolafe pointed out that the initiatives aligned with the Commission’s mandate to maximise government revenues, minimise waste and ensure optimal regulatory oversight in line with the Petroleum Industry Act.
He noted that the new system was part of broader efforts to modernise Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and curb losses due to theft and under-reporting.
The new guidelines represent a significant step toward a more transparent, accountable and efficient oil export regime in Nigeria.
“By leveraging technology, robust validation and strict documentation protocols, the Commission is addressing long-standing challenges of opacity, losses and inefficiency in the sector,” Mr Komolafe said.
