African nation is increasing the stakes in the continued war against fake lubes.
Three agencies, including the main government petroleum department, have joined forces in Nigeria to increase the pressure on fake lubes producers. The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) is now working with the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and Lubricant Association of Nigeria (LUBAN) in an effort to stem the N250bn ($1.5bn) counterfeit industry.
The fake products are generally sold at the roadside or in organised markets and are produced in illegal blending parts in and around villages in various parts of the country. In a recent raid, the DPR - backed by security forces - closed down an illegal plant and confiscated illicit lubricants, making a number of arrests.
However, according the Nigerian Tribune, much of the latest campaign is dependent on local populations reporting the production and sale of these lubricants. The raid, for example, was triggered when villagers complained to the authorities about the health risk being posed by the blending plant.
Although it would appear some headway is being made, OATS has been reporting on Nigeria's fake lubes war for some years and it would seem there is still some way to go before the war is won by the authorities and legal producers.