The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has announced new requirements for crude oil and petroleum product exports, mandating that all exporters must now obtain an export permit, vessel clearance, and a Unique Identification Number (UIN) before any shipment can leave the country.
This development comes as oil producers exported crude and petroleum products valued at ₦12.96 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, despite ongoing challenges faced by domestic refineries due to inadequate feedstock supply.
The directive, issued under the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Advance Cargo Declaration Regulation, 2024, requires exporters to complete all pre-shipment documentation through the commission’s online platforms. This includes identity verification of exporters, confirmation of export volumes, and embedding a UIN into every clearance notification to enable real-time tracking.
According to the Commission, “All relevant export documents, including the bill of lading, certificate of origin, and cargo manifest, must reference the UIN, ensuring traceability and compliance.”
The new regulation, endorsed by Commission Chief Executive Gbenga Komolafe, seeks to tackle persistent issues such as oil theft, under-declaration of volumes, and revenue loss at export terminals.
A statement released by the commission’s public relations unit on Wednesday noted that the guidelines, issued under Section 10(f) of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, lay out a comprehensive framework for obtaining export documentation and ensuring compliance for all exports of crude oil, condensates, natural gas liquids, and petroleum products from Nigeria’s terminals and exit points.
“The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Advance Cargo Declaration Regulation, 2024, is 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, powered by the Advance Cargo Declaration (ACD) Portal, allows integration with other government systems, real-time cargo monitoring, and mandatory data upload within 24 hours of loading.
The regulation applies across all terminals and exit points in Nigeria and covers all licenses and leases granted or maintained under the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.
In addition, the guidelines grant the commission authority to deny vessel clearance for incomplete or fraudulent documentation. Violators may face administrative penalties or further sanctions.
Highlighting the strategic importance of the reform, Komolafe stated, “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 emphasized that the initiative is part of a broader push to modernize the upstream petroleum sector, reduce waste, enhance revenue generation, and enforce full regulatory compliance.
