The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has announced that exporters must now obtain an export permit, vessel clearance, and a Unique Identification Number before any crude shipment can leave the country.
In the first quarter of 2025, Oil producers exported crude oil and other petroleum products worth N12.96 trillion, even as domestic refineries continue to suffer from poor feedstock supply.
The new directive, issued under the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Advance Cargo Declaration Regulation 2024, mandates the use of the Commission’s online platforms for the processing of all pre-shipment documentation.
This includes verifying the identity of exporters, confirming export volumes, and embedding a UIN into every clearance notification to enable real-time tracking.
According to the Commission, all relevant export documents, such as the Bill of Lading, Certificate of Origin, and cargo manifest, must reference the UIN to ensure full traceability and compliance with regulatory protocols.
The guidelines, endorsed by the Commission Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe, aim to address long-standing issues of under-declaration, oil theft, and revenue loss at export terminals.
A statement issued by the public relations unit of the commission on Wednesday said, the guidelines, issued under Section 10(f) of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, provide a comprehensive framework for obtaining export permits, vessel clearance, and a mandatory Unique Identification Number for all crude oil, condensate, natural gas liquids, and petroleum product exports from Nigerian terminals and export points.
The Advance Cargo Declaration solution is designed to enhance transparency and accountability in crude oil export operations.
It aims to achieve this by establishing a robust system for declaring and tracking crude oil movement, from production to export terminals, and ensuring that only certified products are exported.
This system is intended to prevent oil theft, under-declaration, and other irregularities in the export process.
Specifically, the ACD solution aims to monitor and account for crude oil movement by tracking crude oil from its origin within Nigeria to its export point, ensuring a clear record of its journey.
It also prevents disruptions, theft, and under-declaration of petroleum products.
By providing a transparent and traceable system, the Advanced Cargo Declaration System would help to minimise opportunities for illegal activities like oil theft and under-reporting of exported quantities.
“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, monitoring and accounting for the movement of crude oil within the country, preventing disruptions, theft and under-declaration at export terminals and ensuring that only certified and measured products are exported, supporting accurate revenue generation for the government.
“This regulation is designed to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in Nigeria’s crude oil and petroleum product exports. It ensures only certified and accurately measured volumes are exported. Under the revised regime, exporters must obtain an export permit, vessel clearance and a Unique Identification Number 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 statement read.
The NUPRC explained that the new system, driven by its Advance Cargo Declaration Portal, allows for seamless integration with other government export systems, real-time monitoring, and timely upload of cargo data within 24 hours of loading.
The regulation applies to all licences and leases granted or preserved under the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, covering exports from every terminal and point of exit across the country.
In addition, the guidelines empower the Commission to deny vessel clearance for incomplete or false documentation. Offenders may be penalised through administrative fines and other sanctions.
Komolafe emphasised that the initiative aligns with the Commission’s broader mandate to modernise the upstream oil sector, minimise waste, maximise government revenue, and enforce regulatory compliance in line with the Petroleum Industry Act.
“This is a significant step in plugging leakages and restoring integrity to Nigeria’s export chain. We are leveraging technology to ensure full visibility and accountability for every barrel exported,” he said.
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