Sopuruchi Onwuka

Nigeria can further reduce the retail prices of petroleum products if the handling infrastructure and facilities are adequate, efficient and flexible enough to allow cost-effective distribution of fuel across the country.

Executive Director in charge of Distribution, Storage System and Retail Infrastructure at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr. Ogbugo  Ukoha, stated at a conference in Lagos that significant operating inefficiencies account for the prevailing cost escalation and pricing challenges in Nigeria’s fuel market.

Mr Ukoha who was speaking at the OTL Africa Energy Week called for greater investment in Nigeria’s coastal and port facilities to address these issues. In a presentation he delivered on “Nigeria Fuels Congress: Issues in Pricing, Policy, Profits, and Market Access,” Mr Ukoha emphasized the need to enhance port infrastructure to reduce the additional costs incurred from smaller vessels and limited draft channels.

He stated that the nation’s shallow water depths that limit entry of ocean going tankers from reaching the import quays, consequent resort to chattering lightering vessels, delays suffered in the course of inefficient discharge operations and cumulative cost escalation all sum up to high prices at the retail pumps.

“The probability to receive LR1 vessels that can bring in 90,000 to 150,000 metric tonnes is limited, and at MRS, we can do up to 60,000 tonnes. Imagine when we were importing petrol directly from Rotterdam, we could bring in 90-kilo tonne vessels directly to discharge points. Now, vessels have to go through Lagos anchorage, where we do ship-to-ship (STS) transfers and parcel cargoes of 20,000 to 30,000 tonnes to smaller vessels that undertake multiple 10-day voyages to Calabar,” Ukoha explained.

He noted that charter costs could be as high as $50,000 to $100,000 per day, adding to the operational inefficiencies that drive up costs. “These are inefficiencies we can eliminate, he pointed put.

Mr Ukoha also explained how shallow water channels impose difficult and rigid passage retinue to some discharge points at the coastal ports.

“It’s not just about the availability of coastal vessels, but also about the channel draft which is insufficiently deep. People are paying extra, and all of these inefficiencies accumulate and affect the overall cost.”

To mitigate these challenges, the NMDPRA has called for investments in Nigeria’s coastal infrastructure, including dredging and port upgrades to accommodate larger vessels, a move that would lower overall transportation costs.

“A few days ago, we were at the Tippy Sole [Tincan Island Anchorage], watching as vessels were queued up at Escravos because one vessel had gone aground. This required evacuation and took many days to resolve. Important ports like Warri, Koko, and Ogara have just a 6.5-meter draft at the channel entrance, which means vessels risk running aground,” he said. “These are critical inefficiencies, and the solution is the right investment and funding.”

He urged commercial banks to collaborate with investors, targeting this sector, noting that with proper funding, the industry could reduce operational costs and improve efficiencies.

Ukoha pointed out that Lekki, with Pinnacle and Dangote’s sea port facilities, is one of the few areas with sufficient reception facilities for large vessels. He added that Apapa Jetty infrastructure urgently requires upgrades to support operational demands.

“Only in Lekki, Pinnacle and Dangote have SBL [Single Buoy Mooring] that can receive MR1 vessels. We need more of these facilities, and Apapa Jetty’s infrastructure needs substantial improvements and upgrades,” he emphasized.

Highlighting additional inefficiencies in the petroleum supply chain, Ukoha lamented that distribution is primarily conducted by trucking, which is costly and risky, and he stressed the need for investment in pipeline infrastructure.

“The cheapest and most efficient global means of transporting products is by pipeline, and we need to return to that. Rail transport also presents opportunities, but currently, we rely heavily on trucks. Trucking is an unsustainable and risky way to transport petroleum products,” he remarked.

He illustrated the dangers of truck transport, referencing a mass grave in Jigawa containing over 70 bodies of unidentified individuals killed in trucking accidents.

“This is tragic,” he said, describing the scene. “We need to encourage more investment in pipelines.”

Ukoha also highlighted the importance of technology in addressing petroleum diversion, particularly near Nigeria’s borders.

“We have large borders with a high risk of petroleum product diversion. While it is not NMDPRA’s responsibility to monitor borders, we work closely with Customs under Operation Whirlwind. The regulator is considering mandating transporters to adopt fully automated trucks to provide end-to-end visibility of petroleum product movements.”

He also encouraged full automation of licensing operations within the regulatory framework and urged marketers to adopt these technologies to ensure transparency.

Discussing the state of retail outlets, Ukoha suggested rewarding customer-centric and profitable retailers annually to incentivize industry improvements.

“Before the unbundling of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), retail outlets required storage for diesel, kerosene, and petrol before approval. With kerosene now obsolete and diesel’s market share expected to decline, petrol is the only product offered. As Nigeria shifts towards LPG and CNG, we need retail outlets to diversify,” he explained.

Speaking on the NMDPRA’s plan for a national strategic petroleum reserve, Ukoha outlined the recent gazetted regulation establishing a 60-day storage capacity for all petroleum products. This reserve is designed to stabilize supply and prices during emergencies, like recent floods in the Lokoja area that threatened northern Nigeria’s product supply.

“NNPC has extensive storage capacity in northern Nigeria, and we look forward to collaborating with them and other stakeholders to implement this,” Ukoha said.

The new strategic products reserve regulation, Ukoha added, is not merely about locking up capital in stored products. Instead, it aims to provide a secure supply chain capable of withstanding unforeseen disruptions.