The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has pledged to deepen regulatory certainty and accelerate its processes to attract investment, strengthen energy security and support sustainable employment in Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
The authority made the commitment at the 2026 edition of the PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit (PELS), where it stressed that effective regulation must facilitate investment and industrial growth rather than create avoidable obstacles for operators.
Speaking on the second day of the summit, the Executive Director, Corporate Services and Administration, NMDPRA, Malam Bashir Sadiq, delivered a keynote address on behalf of the Authority Chief Executive, Mallam Rabiu A. Umar, titled “Strengthening Regulatory Frameworks for Stability and Growth.”
Sadiq said the success of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 would be determined not merely by the legislation itself, but by the quality of its implementation and the measurable outcomes it delivers to the economy.
He said the regulatory framework must provide clarity and predictability for investors while ensuring that operators comply with the rules governing the sector.
According to him, NMDPRA’s approach is anchored on the principle of being “Firm in Regulation, Fair in Conduct and Fast in Execution.”
He explained that being responsive to industry concerns should not be interpreted as regulatory weakness, just as the drive for faster processes should not compromise diligence or safety.
The authority also placed human capital development at the centre of efforts to build a more resilient petroleum industry, stressing that a productive workforce remains critical to the success of ongoing reforms.
Sadiq described investment in training as an investment in the future of the industry, while emphasising that safety remained non-negotiable across the petroleum value chain.
He called for stronger cooperation among government institutions, regulators, petroleum operators and organised labour, arguing that the industry could only achieve sustained growth where regulatory certainty, compliance, investment and industrial harmony reinforce one another.
The NMDPRA executive noted that regulatory stability was particularly important for encouraging investment and improving productivity, as uncertainty in the regulatory environment could undermine business decisions and constrain sectoral growth.
He said the Authority was therefore committed to transparent engagement with stakeholders and continuous improvement of its regulatory processes.
According to him, technology adoption and stronger market surveillance would also remain important components of NMDPRA’s regulatory strategy as the petroleum industry evolves.
COURTESY: Independent
