The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) and the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) have formally renewed their collaborative framework to bolster the nation’s energy security and accelerate industrial growth.
This commitment was solidified during a high-level courtesy visit by the GCEO of NNPC Ltd., Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, to the NMDPRA Headquarters in Abuja earlier today.
The engagement centered on aligning both institutions with the Presidential mandate to enhance oil production, deepen gas utilization, and expand domestic refining capacity.
During the discussions, Engr. Ojulari underscored that NNPC Ltd.’s current operational trajectory is anchored on disciplined execution and a commercial mandate where profitability remains the primary objective.
A centerpiece of this strategy is the newly unveiled 2026 NNPC Gas Master Plan, which Ojulari described as a deliberate intervention to stimulate gas off-take and unlock new value across the downstream chain.
He emphasized that the company is ready to sustain constructive engagement with regulators to ensure that national development goals are met through operational excellence.
Responding to the GCEO, the Authority Chief Executive (ACE) of the NMDPRA, Engr. Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, pledged the regulator’s unwavering support in creating a transparent and predictable environment as dictated by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). Mohammed specifically commended the 2026 Gas Master Plan, acknowledging gas as Nigeria’s primary transition fuel while noting that a balanced energy mix is critical to satisfying the country’s burgeoning energy demand.
He reaffirmed that the Authority’s partnership with NNPC Ltd. is essential to maintaining stability and compliance across the sector.
The visit concluded with a shared resolution to enhance efficiency and investment attraction within the midstream and downstream sectors. By reinforcing institutional alignment, both the regulator and the national oil company aim to ensure that the petroleum industry remains a catalyst for collective national prosperity and long-term energy independence.