By ebosele@hotmail.com-
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s energy security, accelerating gas utilisation and delivering efficient regulation to support the country’s evolving energy landscape.
The Authority Chief Executive, Mallam Rabiu A. Umar, made the commitment while speaking at the opening ceremony of the 49th Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE 2026) in Lagos.
The conference, themed “Thriving in the Evolving Global Energy Landscape: Collaborative Growth and Resilience,” brought together key stakeholders to discuss strategies for advancing Nigeria’s petroleum industry amid global energy transition.
Umar said the Authority’s regulatory approach would continue to be guided by the principles of being Firm, fair, and fast while ensuring full compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and creating an enabling environment that attracts investment into the sector.
He highlighted Nigeria’s emergence as a regional refining hub through the expansion of large-scale and modular refineries, noting that the NMDPRA remains committed to enforcing Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligations to guarantee adequate feedstock for local refineries while maintaining commercial balance across the petroleum value chain.
The Authority Chief Executive also stressed the importance of expanding the nation’s gas infrastructure, citing ongoing efforts to support the completion of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, increase the adoption of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), and promote gas commercialization under the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas initiative.
According to him, the Authority is implementing market reforms aimed at improving gas distribution, encouraging investment and advancing Nigeria’s energy transition agenda.
Umar called for stronger collaboration among regulators, operators, financiers and technology providers to build a resilient energy sector capable of meeting growing domestic and regional energy demand.
He also highlighted the Authority’s engagement through the West Africa Regulators Forum, describing it as a platform for strengthening regional market integration, enhancing transparency and promoting cooperation across West Africa’s energy sector.
