This document outlines guidelines for importing petroleum products into Nigeria. It discusses eligibility requirements for importers, conditions for importation including necessary documentation, and the process. Eligible importers include government agencies and private companies with storage facilities. Importers must apply for permits from regulatory agencies, providing documents like tax records and licenses. Once permitted, importers request pricing from foreign suppliers, obtain necessary forms to transfer funds out of Nigeria to pay for purchases, and establish letters of credit. Required loading port documents are specified to secure and transport cargo, including bills of lading, certificates, and logs.

1. IMPORT GUIDELINES, PROCEDURES AND DOCUMENTATION FOR THE
IMPORTATION OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS INTO NIGERIA AND TO THE
TERMINALS
BY
MR DIVINE GREATMAN YISA
NOVEMBER 2015.
The following guidelines which must be adhered strictly to are intended to facilitate the
importation of petroleum products into Nigeria and terminals.
A. ELIGIBILITY;
The following categories of companies may apply for PERMIT to import petroleum products.

2.  Pipelines and products marketing company Ltd (PPMC).
 Major petroleum products marketing company (e.g, mobil producing unlimited, MRS,
Total-Elf etc.
 Independent petroleum marketing companies, i.e, Depot and petroleum Products
Marketing Association (DAPPMA), companies with current licensed
receptacle/storage facilities (jetties/depots. like Mainland oil and Gas Ltd, Northwest
petroleum, etc.
B. CONDITIONS FOR IMPORTATION OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS.
 Expression of interest: application for import permit which must be made on company’s
letter head paper on DPR’s prescribed form, shall be forwarded to the Director, Department
of Petroleum Resources.
 All application must be accompanied with ;
a. A copy of the certificate of incorporation of the applicant’s company.
b. A copy of current storage/sales license issued by DPR.
c. A copy of the Company Article and MOA( original to be sighted by (DPR).
d. 3 years Tax clearance certificate.
e. Every import permit shall have duration of 90 days from the date of issue.
f. Each importer of petroleum products shall be required to submit returns on the previous
importation for which permit was granted, along with copies of all relevant invoices and
shipping documents before any subsequent application for an import permit can be approved.
Such documents shall include;
a, Relevant invoices
b, Bill of lading
c. photocopy of Approved form ‘M’
d, A copy of the certificate of quality and Quantity of previous imported and delivered
products well certified by DPR to be made available for renewal of import permit.
e. Detail cargo information, such as direct shipment, ship to ship,(STS) name of mother
vessel (MV), certificate of quality, last port of call etc.
f. Evidence of utilization of the quantity of products for which import permit was previously
granted.
g. For every new application for a permit, the permit granted to a company for a previous
importation must be surrendered to the Department of Petroleum Resources.
Having fulfilled the above requirements, a permit to import is granted by the both
government Agencies (PPPRA and DPR). i.e PPPRA import permit and DPR import permits
respectively.
At this point, mainland will request the foreign supplier for the proforma invoice.
A. Proforma Invoice; known as PFI is an estimated invoice sent by a seller to a buyer in
advance of a shipment or delivery of goods/cargo. It notes the kind and quantity of goods,
their value, and other important information such as weight, and transportation charges.

3. Form M’. having received the PFI from the foreign supplier, Mainland will consider the price
and quality of the product, and if the quality meets the DPR standard and the price
considerate, Mainland will then obtain and process the form M.
Form ‘M’: is a document which allows Nigerian importers to transfer the foreign currency
out of Nigeria. All import into Nigeria must be initiated with a form M.
Steps to requesting for a form M are:
1. Collect form M from any authorized bank.
2. Fill and submit with copies of the following documents;
 PFI (original and 3 copies).
 Insurance Certificate (original and 3 copies)
 Collect your pink copy as reference from the processing officer.
 Document will be sent thereafter to relevant inspection agency and customs.
 And all necessary payments as required by customs authority would be made by the
importer if form M is approved.
Letter of Credit (L/C) is Established: L/C is defined as an undertaking by an issuing bank
and is opened on behalf of Mainland to the beneficiary to make payment within a
specified time, against the presentation of documents which comply strictly with the
terms and conditions of the credit. Letters of credit are often used in international
transaction to ensure that payment will be received.
Therefore, the risk to the seller of non-payment by the buyer is transferred to the issuing
bank (and the confirming bank if the letter of credit is confirmed) as long as the exporter
(supplier) presents the documents in strict compliance with the credit.
Having established or opened letter of credit for the transaction, Mainland will proceed
to secure the cargo.
Load Port Documents:
The mother vessel arrives the load port, tenders NOR, NOR accepted, commenced
loading, completed loading and the consignor/carrier makes available the following
documents:
1. Bill of lading
2. Certificate of Origin
3. Cargo Manifest
4. Certificate of Quantity and Quality
5. Vessel survey Report After Loading
6. Time Log.
7. Bunker Survey Report
8. Cargo Pumping Log.
Load Port Documents at STS:

4. The same documents mentioned above applies here except the following:
1.vessel ullage report on arrival before discharge to DV, (MV)
2.Vessel ullage report after discharge(ROB) of MV.
3. Vessel survey Report after loading. (DV) And
4. Certificate of Transfer.
After the STS operations, and all parties involved in the operations certifies that the
quantity transferred agree with the quantity received, the vessel set to sail to the receiving
Terminal.