The Nigerian government has rolled out new guidelines known as the Advanced Cargo Declaration Regime to ensure transparency in the nation’s crude oil and other petroleum product exports.
This was contained in a statement on Wednesday by the Public Affairs and Corporate Communication Department of
Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC.
The guidelines under the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Advance Cargo Declaration Regulation, 2024, are part of broader reforms designed to strengthen oversight of crude oil movements, curb under-declaration and theft at export terminals, and ensure accurate revenue generation for the federal government.
It mandates crude oil and petroleum product exporters to submit all export documentation within 24 hours of cargo shipment.
The updated framework, approved by the Commission Chief Executive, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, on Tuesday, applies to all licences and leases granted or preserved under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
“The NUPRC’s Advance Cargo Declaration Portal is a real-time, technology-driven system that integrates seamlessly with other government export systems, allowing for real-time tracking and reconciliation of crude oil exports, immediate upload of export documentation within 24 hours of cargo loading, and enhanced data integrity and transparency across the export chain.
“The new guidelines represent a significant step towards a more transparent, accountable, and efficient oil export regime in Nigeria. By leveraging technology, robust validation, and strict documentation protocols, the Commission is addressing long-standing challenges of opacity, losses, and inefficiency in the sector,” the statement said.
Media Talk Africa reports that despite the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation and the Domestic Crude Refining Requirement, domestic refiners such as Dangote Refinery have continued to rely heavily on crude oil imports.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics’ latest trade data, Nigeria imported crude oil worth N1.19 trillion in the first quarter of 2025 due to poor domestic supply to local refineries.
Meanwhile, Nigeria exported N12.96 trillion worth of crude oil and oil petroleum products in the first quarter of 2025, 62.89 percent of the country’s exports in the period under review.
