With new refineries coming on stream and old ones billed for overhaul, the CEO of Enyo Retail and Supply, Abayomi Awobokun, has stressed the need for government and private sector players to ensure that digital technologies are deployed for improved process safety and asset performance.
According to him, these will in turn, reduce unplanned shutdowns; and establish predictive maintenance with condition-based implementation by merging technology and maintenance data.
He said while research has revealed that digitization could be a source of positive change, there are a number of challenges that need to be overcome to realize its full potential for both downstream businesses and the Nigerian society.
“The increase in automated processes and systems has created new risks around data privacy and security; and this has forced downstream businesses to grapple with challenges related to changing customer expectations, cultural transformation, outdated regulation and skill shortages– to name a few.”
He argued that the high level of fraud committed across retail outlets, and challenges associated with haulage of products in-country, can be addressed if digital technology is deployed.
Interestingly, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) recently commenced the gradual phase-out of manual measurements of fuel at petrol stations.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, after conducting a surveillance of petrol stations, Zonal Controller, Abuja Office of the DPR, Mr Buba Abubakar, said the agency has identified three focal areas in its quest to restore sanity in the downstream petroleum industry.
“We are going to look at diversion, hoarding and under-dispensing very well because they are cheating the public in terms of under-dispensing. We are going to look at these three things and we are going to sustain our surveillance on petrol stations.” Mr Abubakar said.
Despite all these, there are still a few emerging companies determined to improve the downstream operations sector of which one is Enyo Retail and Supply. Abayomi Awobokun revealed that the company was determined to pioneer the digitization of Nigeria’s downstream operations.
