In this second and concluding part of our interview with the Managing Director/CEO of 11 Plc (Formerly known as Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc), Mr. Tunji Oyebanji, we report his views about adulteration of lubes in Nigeria, the Standards Organisation (SON) efforts, as well as the company’s market share, among others. Interview by Frank Kintum and Goodness Sunday
How do you check the issue of adulterated lubes in the market?
Oh! You mentioned one of my biggest challenges. This has been something that has affected our sales. Nigerians are very ingenious. Do you know? Some people manufacture adulterated lubricants and go round to sell.
Some of the things we have done, we introduced tamper proof seal. Then we have got a new cap that we got the license from Egypt to manufacture. That cap, once you have removed it from the oil, you cannot use it again. So that one, it becomes impossible to recap, once you have opened it and taken out from it, even to store water, you cannot use it because you cannot lock it back. So these are some of the ways we have tried to combat the menace of these people.
They are big syndicates, with the big time criminals behind them. For our drum products, we have serial numbers on the seal. So once that seal has been broken or removed, you know that somebody has tampered with the product. So, we have put all those measures in place, though I would say the incidents have reduced but not eliminated completely.
Do you think that SON (Standards organization of Nigeria) has been helpful?
They are trying their best, you know government agencies, funding is their problem. Sometimes, when you go and report to them they will say well, we need help and assistance to go and do the job. So they are trying, they could be more effective than they are now.
Sir, your lube has been a reputable brand in Nigeria for many decades, what is your current market share in the auto lube market?
Ah, it is always difficult, you know in Nigeria, we do not have very good data, so to say. I will say we are one of the leading brands, but to say this is our market share, maybe about 10%, but it will be an estimate. You know there are many fake brands, you could sell engine oil on the roadside, in bottles you know.
Within the majors, I can say we are like 15-20% but when you start adding all sorts of oil, some people are even importing ordinary base oil and selling it as engine oil.
Many of those things gotten by the road side is ordinary base oil, like soup without salt or pepper inside and all that, so that is how it is. You know, a lot of people are uneducated, they do not know and because oil is something that if you do not use the right one, it would not spoil your car immediately, it is small, small, small, not knowing that they are reducing the lifespan of the vehicle.
So, how do you maintain your market share?
Well, we have various programmes, we have very strong collaboration with mechanics. We have a lot of training programmes. So, Mobil sponsors trainings for them about proper lubrication. We work very closely with the association and over the years, we must have trained not less than 300,000 mechanics throughout the length and breadth of Nigeria. We do a lot of advertising, and promotional activities and so on and so forth.
All these things we have been doing, but you know the wave of the future now is CNG and we hope that a lot of the big buses, inter-state buses will gradually move to CNG because it is a cheaper alternative and it is good for the environment and it is less polluting. If you go abroad now, all those buses that carry people from the aircraft to the terminal, they usually use the CNG buses, so we hope things will move in that direction in Nigeria.
Sir, because of your consistent contribution to the Nigeria energy space over the decades, you were recently honored as Nigerian Energy Personality of the Year at the 10th Nigeria Transport Lecture, how do you feel about that?
It is good for all these little efforts to be recognized, I have been involved in downstream now for over three decades. You know we try to make our own little contributions and now a lot of what I have tried to do is to give back, part of my experiences and knowledge to other people in the industry. So, I feel highly delighted and highly honoured. It will take a pride of place among various awards I have received. Transport is a very big contributor to the GDP, because transport is not only cars and haulage, is the movement by planes, movement by vessels and water. It is a very big business, so for that industry to deem it fit to recognize me this way, I feel honoured.
Finally sir, how do you relax after so much work?
I do not know, do I relax? I do not know. If I am at home, it is either I am watching movies or watching football. I do travel a lot both locally and out of the country. Nigeria security has reduced that a bit. I use to tell people that I know Anambra more than some Anambra people. I use to play golf, but I don’t have that much time.
