The Federal Government has renewed the fight against smuggling of petroleum products out of the country with a new technology commissioned by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).
the new initiative known as Downstream Remote Monitoring System (DRMS), is aimed at checking illegal activities in the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry, determine illegal petrol stations actors and provide accurate data on the industry.
Earlier, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said the nation’s economy had been losing N2 billion daily to fuel smuggling after the Federal Government closed land borders and fuel stations around border communities.
Director-General of DPR, Auwalu Sarki, said the move represents a digital transformation that would drive transparency, accountability, domestic energy security and availability of products in the country.
He stressed that the initiative would directly reduce smuggling in the country, insisting that the days of illegal operators in the sector were over.
He said the DRMS would reduce smuggling and provide credible information on how the products are being taken out of the borders, adding that the country would also be able to determine its consumption level and actual products required in the country.
He explained that for the downstream operators, DRMS would provide required information to drive value from existing businesses, investments to fund expansion and growth opportunities for new ventures.
