The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) have said it will enforce stricter transparency, fairness and predictability as the sector adapts to 3 major changes over the past five years. Speaking at NOGEnergyWeek 2026 in Abuja, Chief Executive Mallam Rabiu A. Umar said consistent regulation is essential for investor confidence and national energy security.
Umar highlighted three transformative shifts since 2021: fuel price deregulation, the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, and Nigeria’s move from import dependence to net exporter after the Dangote refinery began operations. He warned that recent geopolitical shocks, including the Middle East war and a temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz, exposed vulnerabilities in supply, prompting the Authority to prioritize development of national strategic petroleum reserves as a buffer.
Umar also stressed expanding domestic gas use as central to both energy security and the transition to cleaner fuels, pointing to the soon-to-be-commissioned AKK pipeline that will deliver gas from southern fields to northern markets and support power generation. The NOG Energy Week opening drew ministers, regulators, executives, investors and development partners from across Africa, underscoring a continental push for collaboration as the region positions gas as its transition fuel.
