Civil society commends NMDPRA for strengthening Nigeria’s post-subsidy petroleum sector

…Warns against investor scare tactics

The President of the League of Civil Society Groups, Mohammed Basah, has commended the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for demonstrating what he described as “world-class regulatory competence” in managing the country’s petroleum industry following the removal of fuel subsidies.

Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja, Basah warned that ongoing criticism and negative campaigns targeted at the NMDPRA and its leadership could deter prospective investors and undermine recent regulatory progress.

“We must not send the wrong signal to investors who are beginning to regain confidence in Nigeria’s energy sector,” he stated.

“Under the leadership of Engr. Farouk Ahmed, the NMDPRA has built a competitive and transparent environment. What is needed at this stage is collective support, not efforts to undermine the system.”

Basah went on to outline several notable achievements of the Authority, citing reforms that curtailed fuel subsidy-related fraud, standardised fuel quality across the country, and contributed to renewed investor interest in modular refineries and downstream fuel distribution.

He said the agency’s regulatory actions have not only stabilised the sector but also laid a solid foundation for long-term growth, adding that the benefits are now becoming evident in increased private sector participation and enhanced transparency in operations.

Basah called for continued backing of the NMDPRA’s mandate to ensure that the gains already recorded are not reversed, stressing that a stable regulatory environment is critical to sustaining momentum in Nigeria’s evolving petroleum landscape.