By Tochukwu Bliss, Abuja
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), today, released a new set of guidelines for the advanced cargo declaration regime.
This, it said, is aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability and efficiency in Nigeria’s crude oil and petroleum exports, according to a statement by the Commission on Wednesday.
Endorsed by the Commission Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe, on Tuesday, said the guidelines, issued under the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Advance Cargo Declaration Regulation 2024, are designed to establish a robust framework for declaring and tracking crude oil and petroleum product exports from Nigeria.
The statement further said: “They monitor and account for the movement of crude oil within the country, preventing disruptions, theft and under-declaration at export terminals.
“They also ensure that only certified and measured products are exported, supporting accurate revenue generation for the government.
Mr Komolafe was quoted as saying that the regulations applied to licences and leases granted or preserved under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, covering crude oil and natural gas.
They also cover natural gas liquids and petroleum products exported from all terminals and export points in Nigeria.
They monitor and account for the movement of crude oil within the country, preventing disruptions, theft and under-declaration at export terminals.
He continued: “Under the revised regime, 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 will validate the identity of exporters and verify export volumes before issuing clearance notifications, which will 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 NUPRC boss explained that the advanced cargo declaration portal was a real-time, technology-driven system that integrates seamlessly with other government export systems.
“It allows 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,” he said.
According to Mr Komolafe, the guidelines empowered the Commission to refuse vessel clearance applications that were incomplete, inadequately documented or contain false information.
He noted that under the guidelines, exporters found to be in violation may face administrative fines and sanctions, adding that it reinforced the commission’s commitment to regulatory compliance and sector integrity.
He said the initiatives aligned with the Commission’s mandate to maximise government’s revenues, minimise waste and ensure optimal regulatory oversight in line with the PIA.
Additionally, he said the new system is in efforts to modernise Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and curb losses due to theft and under-reporting, and 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 hopes to address long-standing challenges of opacity, losses and inefficiency in the oil and gas sector.
