NUPRC Mandates New Pre-Shipment Guidelines to Curb Oil Theft and Boost Transparency

Nigeria has launched new oil export rules to curb theft and enforce stricter shipment tracking.

Exporters must now secure permits and UINs before crude or products leave the country.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has rolled out a fresh directive requiring all crude oil and petroleum product exporters to comply with stringent documentation protocols before shipments can leave the country. The new rules include obtaining an export permit, vessel clearance, and a Unique Identification Number (UIN) under a broader regulatory framework aimed at curbing oil theft, enhancing transparency, and safeguarding national revenue.

This mandate was outlined in the newly introduced Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Advance Cargo Declaration (ACD) Regulation, 2024, and officially communicated by the Commission on Wednesday. The regulation is based on Section 10(f) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021, and marks a pivotal step in Nigeria’s efforts to overhaul its export control and monitoring system in the petroleum sector.

According to a statement from the NUPRC’s public affairs department, the new ACD framework compels all oil exporters to process their documentation exclusively through the Commission’s dedicated online platforms. These platforms are designed to streamline and authenticate every aspect of crude oil and petroleum product exportation from verifying the legitimacy of exporters and confirming export volumes, to issuing a UIN that must be embedded in all clearance notifications.

This UIN, the Commission said, is now a critical requirement for traceability and real-time tracking. All core export documents, including the Bill of Lading, Certificate of Origin, and the Cargo Manifest, must now carry the UIN as a reference to ensure seamless regulatory compliance and monitoring.

The NUPRC stressed that the primary objective of these new guidelines is to provide a comprehensive solution to chronic issues affecting Nigeria’s oil exports. These include under-declaration of crude volumes, oil theft at export terminals, illegal shipments, and significant losses in government revenue.

The Commission’s Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe, emphasized that the Advance Cargo Declaration system is a transformative tool aimed at ensuring accountability and transparency in the sector. “The new guidelines are structured to establish a robust framework for declaring and tracking crude oil and petroleum product exports from Nigeria,” he stated. “They will enable us to monitor and account for the movement of crude from its source to the export point, and to ensure that only certified, accurately measured products are allowed to leave the country.”

This regulatory shift comes at a time when Nigeria’s crude export value hit ₦12.96 trillion in the first quarter of 2025 alone. Despite this high export volume, the country’s domestic refineries continue to struggle with inadequate feedstock, a situation largely blamed on unregulated crude allocation and exports.

The ACD system is therefore seen as a strategic intervention to prevent further disruptions and strengthen the integrity of the nation’s petroleum sector. Through improved tracking mechanisms and data integration, the regulation aims to close the loopholes that have long been exploited by smugglers and unscrupulous operators.

In sum, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Advance Cargo Declaration Regulation, 2024, is not just another policy directive it represents a decisive move by the Federal Government to regain control over its natural resources, restore order at export terminals, and ensure that Nigeria’s vast petroleum wealth translates into tangible benefits for its citizens.