The Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) say the agency is ready to issue interested Nigerians with registered companies a licence for the importation of fuel. The Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed stated yesterday while speaking with newsmen that the criteria for importing kerosene and diesel will be applicable for the importation of the product. Although, he disclosed that several conditions have to be met before the licence will be granted.
Ahmed said, “There are a lot of conditions to be met before you are given a licence to import petrol,”
“I cannot give you all the rundown now but I can tell you that just the way marketers import diesel or jet kero, there are conditions for all that and the same condition will apply to those who want to import premium motor spirit (PMS).”
According to section 197 (2) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, only companies that are licensed to produce crude oil and/or condensates or who are holders of crude oil refining licences are eligible to supply wholesale petroleum liquids (including petrol importation),
Although the PIA empowers the NMDPRA to issue licences to refiners or producers of crude oil, the regulation also in sections 73 (3) and 111 (1), stipulates that the minister of petroleum reserves the power to approve such licences.
Presently, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) is the only supplier, tasked with importing refined petrol to ensure adequate supply and distribution nationwide.
Through the Direct purchase and direct sale scheme, the country exchanged the exported crude oil to the refined product though at what condition is only known by the authorities.
