NMDPRA harps on increased collaboration with Marketers
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has harped on increased collaboration between marketers and regulators.
This was echoed during a strategic meeting with major marketing associations and terminal operators in Abuja on Wednesday to establish a more transparent and predictable regulatory framework capable of stabilizing domestic petroleum supply and pricing.
The engagement brought together leadership from the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Terminal Operators to address operational bottlenecks and smooth out distribution inefficiencies nationwide.
Speaking during the meeting, the Authority Chief Executive, Mallam Rabiu Umar, noted that the engagement provided a critical opportunity to better understand the current operational realities and challenges facing industry operators.
He reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to strengthening regulatory effectiveness while ensuring that policies are implemented in a manner that actively supports growth, investment, and long-term sustainability across the midstream and downstream petroleum sectors.
He further stressed the need for continuous collaboration between the regulator and industry operators to swiftly address emerging issues and maintain a stable, competitive market environment.
The Chairman of MEMAN, Mr. Huub Stokman, commended the Authority’s proactive engagement with stakeholders.
He emphasized that the industry requires a strong, consistent, fair, predictable, and transparent regulator, noting that these structural qualities are absolutely essential for unlocking investor confidence and ensuring market stability.
Similarly, the Chairman of DAPPMAN, Mrs. Moroti Adedoyin-Adeyinka, expressed her association’s full support for the Authority’s leadership and ongoing reform agenda.
She stated that DAPPMAN remains deeply committed to working hand-in-hand with the regulator to build a more efficient, resilient, and sustainable petroleum sector.
During the interactive session, stakeholders openly debated prevailing headwinds in the industry, focusing heavily on the direct impact of domestic refining activities on market pricing dynamics, alongside mounting logistics concerns relating to LPG pricing and supply.
In his closing remarks, the Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure (DSSRI), Mr. Ogbugo Ukoha, described the discussions as highly constructive and reassuring.
He noted that the engagement reflected a shared, industry-wide commitment to addressing operational concerns through transparent dialogue and collaborative policymaking.