The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regulatory certainty, transparency and stakeholder engagement as key drivers of investment and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
The commitment was reiterated at the opening of the 2026 General Counsel and Legal Advisers Forum in Abuja, where industry leaders, regulators and legal experts gathered to discuss strategies for enhancing regulatory effectiveness and investor confidence.
The two-day forum, themed “Beyond Compliance: Driving Regulatory Certainty and Investment Confidence in Nigeria’s Petroleum Sector,” brought together general counsel, legal advisers, regulators and other stakeholders to explore practical approaches to improving compliance, strengthening governance and positioning Nigeria as a preferred investment destination.
Declaring the forum open, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, commended the NMDPRA for institutionalising the annual forum as a strategic platform for sustained dialogue between regulators and the legal leadership of licensed operators.
According to the minister, Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global energy market depends not only on compliance but also on regulatory clarity, consistency and predictability capable of inspiring investor confidence.
Lokpobiri also highlighted the gains recorded through the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 and the deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector, noting that the reforms have expanded domestic refining capacity, improved product availability and created fresh opportunities across the petroleum value chain.
He urged legal advisers to play a more strategic role in strengthening corporate governance, facilitating responsible investment and supporting the continued growth of the industry.
In his opening remarks, the Authority Chief Executive, Mallam Rabiu Abdullahi Umar, described the forum as an important platform for collaboration between the Authority and the legal leadership of licensed operators.
He stressed that while regulatory compliance remains the bedrock of effective oversight, the ultimate goal is to build a business environment defined by certainty, predictability and investor confidence through fair, transparent and consistent regulation.
Also speaking, the Legal Adviser of the Authority, Dr. Joseph Tolorunse, said compliance should be viewed as the foundation rather than the end goal of an effective regulatory framework.
“The destination is confidence. Confidence that investors can make long-term decisions with clarity, that operators understand regulatory expectations, and that the Authority will regulate fairly, transparently and consistently to build a resilient, competitive and globally attractive petroleum sector,” he said.
The opening day of the forum featured panel discussions on “Driving Regulatory Certainty and Investor Confidence” and “Exploring Legal and Commercial Entry Points for Investment in Nigeria’s Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Value Chain,” providing participants with practical insights into strengthening the sector’s regulatory framework and enhancing Nigeria’s investment appeal.
