Victor EzejaTHE Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), has said it is working in collaboration with Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) to curtail the manufacturing and sale of substandard lubricants in the country.
The Director and Chief Executive Officer, DPR, Engr. Sarki Auwalu, stated that there was high proliferation of substandard lubricants in the markets, which is not healthy for the lubricant subsector of the downstream industry in the country.
“Some manufacturers recycle engine oil and other substandard lubricants and package them for sale to innocent Nigerians,” he said.
A lubricant is a substance that helps to reduce friction between surfaces in mutual contact in automobiles.
The DPR boss noted that such activities had adverse effects on engines of vehicles, power generators and industrial machines,
He added that the DPR’s collaboration with SON would help to get rid of such products in markets.
He also reiterated the need for more inter- agencies collaboration in the petroleum industry to halt cross-border smuggling and diversion of products.
On Wednesday, a team of Surveillance, Investigation and Monitoring (SIM) unit of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) bursted a lubricant syndicate adulterating lubricant in Sokoto State.
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The unidentified suspect who was reportedly arrested along Gidan Mada area of Sokoto metropolis, was in possession of several jerry cans of adulterated engine oil.
Similarly, last month, SON’s SIM also reportedly caught a syndicate who was manufacturing substandard lubricant at a residential property located around the Alaba International Market area of Lagos State.
The team found drums of base oil and empty drums used in mixing adulterated lubricants.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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