NMDPRA Establishes Nigeria’s Most Transparent Petroleum Regulatory Framework – Ahmed

The Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr. Farouk Ahmed, says the Authority has established Nigeria’s most transparent, predictable, and investor-friendly petroleum regulatory framework.

Ahmed, represented by Mr. Ayo Cardoso, NMDPRA’s South-West Regional Coordinator, made this known on Tuesday at the ongoing 2025 COREN Summit in Lagos, themed “Refinery – Key to Energy Security in Africa.”

According to him, the NMDPRA has developed and gazetted 18 key regulations covering every phase of refinery development — from establishment through to operations — marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s quest for energy self-sufficiency.

“These regulations were not developed in isolation,” Ahmed said. “They were co-created with industry stakeholders to ensure they are practical, bankable, and investor-friendly. This is what we mean by regulatory certainty — clarity of rules, fairness in enforcement, and confidence in outcomes.”

Driving Industrial Growth and Investor Confidence

Ahmed noted that the Authority’s mandate extends beyond regulation, explaining that the NMDPRA is actively facilitating industrial growth by working across agencies and the entire energy value chain to guarantee crude oil supply to all licensed refineries through structured nomination and supply mechanisms.

He added that the Authority ensures efficient evacuation and logistics for refined products to reach markets, while promoting transparent practices that foster fair competition.

“We also ensure Naira-denominated crude sales to shield refiners from foreign exchange volatility,” Ahmed explained. “Our accelerated approvals, guided by service-level agreements, provide both technical and commercial support throughout project lifecycles.”

He described these initiatives as part of an optimisation framework designed to translate regulatory stability into investment confidence and boost domestic refining capacity.

Policy Consistency as the Bedrock of Progress

Ahmed emphasised that investor confidence depends on consistent policy and regulatory integrity.

“Investors must trust that rules will not change midstream and that their returns are secure within a fair market structure,” he stated.

Highlighting key achievements over the past four years, Ahmed cited downstream liberalisation and updated transportation codes that align with modern infrastructure and market realities. These, he noted, are actionable steps under the Authority’s 2025 Refining Acceleration Plan.

“Nigeria’s energy future will be defined by clarity, confidence, and collaboration. We are not just refining crude oil — we are refining our economic destiny,” Ahmed said.

Nigeria’s Refining Revolution

Ahmed commended the ongoing transformation of Nigeria’s refining landscape, driven by projects such as the Dangote Refinery and a growing number of licensed modular and conventional refineries.

“For too long, we exported crude and imported refined products — a paradox that weakened our economy. But that story is changing,” he remarked.

He said Nigeria now stands at the threshold of a historic transformation — shifting from dependency to dominance, and from being an importer to a net exporter of refined petroleum products.

According to him, the refining revolution will be anchored on two key pillars: Regulatory Certainty and Investor Confidence.

Refining as a Catalyst for Energy Sovereignty

Ahmed also commended the COREN Summit’s inclusive engagements, such as the Women in Refining session and the keynote dinner on “Private Refining as a Catalyst for Energy Security.”

“We reaffirmed that refining is not just a business — it embodies energy sovereignty, economic resilience, and industrial strength,” he said. “At NMDPRA, our promise is simple — to regulate with clarity, facilitate with credibility, and lead with courage.”