MEMAN seeks end to counterfeit lubricants

The Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) has called for urgent measures by regulatory authorities and the public to curb the rampant counterfeiting of lubricants in the country.

The association warned that the proliferation of counterfeit lubricants poses significant risks to industrial equipment, potentially leading to costly damages and operational downtimes.

MEMAN, during its quarter press webinar and engagement on the theme: ‘Lubricants quality and counterfeiting mitigations’, the association expressed dissatisfaction on the level of the menace in the country.

The Executive Secretary of MEMAN, Clement Isong, mentioned that the association tackled the menace in the past but with its reoccurrence, it is necessary as an industry to curb the menace.

Isong stressed that lubricant is the lifeblood of mechanical equipment, noting that the greatest risk to the equipment is face lubricants.

“MEMAN has tackled it before but as the issue keeps coming in a gain and it’s a global problem but as an industry association, we are working with LUPAN and other regulators with a massive campaign to curb the menace, we really can’t afford people’s equipment to start breaking down as it will impact the growth of the industry,” he said.

Chairman of the Lubricant Committee, MEMAN/ Manager, Commercial Lubricant Sales and Field Engineering Services, 11PLC (formerly Mobil Oil Nigeria), Steve Ezendiokwere, said the instances of counterfeiting and counterfeited lubricants abound in the industry as most times the fake lubricants are difficult to identify when placed side by side with original and quality products.

He stressed that in mitigating the menace, there should be engagement with relevant government agencies and authorities with the adoption of very tight controls to make counterfeiting difficult for counterfeiters like the introduction of branded seals, pilfer rings on the gallon caps etc.

Ezendiokwere added that brand owners and the industry should develop strategies to prevent running out of products, increase public awareness through the media, especially adverts, utilise technology to combat the menace.

He, however, urged MEMAN to champion inter-laboratory lubricant testing within the industry to reinforce confidence in the quality and promote skill, he also urged them to sanction marketers importing finished mineral-based lubricants that could be blended locally.