The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, have called for a complete transformation of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum industry to drive energy self-sufficiency, transparency, and sustainable growth.
Speaking at the First Annual Downstream Petroleum Week in Abuja on Monday, Speaker Abbas described the event as “one of the most defining moments in the evolution of Nigeria’s petroleum sector.”
The week-long conference, organised by the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), convened key industry players, regulators, labour unions, and private investors including the Dangote Group, PENGASSAN, and NNPCL.
Declaring the event open, Abbas said the initiative underscored the National Assembly’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s energy framework, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda of reforming critical sectors.
According to him, the Dangote Refinery’s take-off has reshaped Nigeria’s refining landscape, steering the nation toward energy independence and industrial expansion.
“Nigeria is at a critical point in its drive for industrialisation,” Abbas stated. “Our duty as legislators is to provide the policies and oversight that will strengthen the downstream sector for a more secure, efficient, and resilient economy.”
He emphasized the need for improved infrastructure, policy clarity, and investment in Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) facilities, while urging actionable solutions to pipeline vandalism, pricing inconsistencies, and energy security challenges. Abbas also called for the full implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA 2021) to boost investor confidence and accountability.
In his keynote address, Ugochinyere hailed the summit as “a national platform for reflection and renewal,” describing the downstream sector as being on the verge of a historic transformation.
He highlighted major refinery projects such as the 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Refinery, Waltersmith Modular Refinery in Imo State, the OPAC Refinery in Delta, and the Indorama Petrochemical expansion — all of which are strengthening local refining, fertilizer production, and gas utilisation.
“The transformation we are witnessing is born of courage, clarity, and innovation,” Ugochinyere said. “Nigeria must refine what it produces and consume what it refines.”
He praised the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for enforcing the Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligation (DCSO), ensuring local refineries have crude access before exports.
Ugochinyere further revealed plans for new legislative interventions to promote local refining, including:
- Granting local refineries first right of refusal on crude allocations.
- Streamlining regulations to eliminate bottlenecks.
- Introducing a Refinery Protection and Promotion Bill to classify refineries as strategic national assets.
- Guaranteeing feedstock access and security for refinery operations.
He urged continued investor confidence and industrial peace, stressing that no reform can succeed without harmony between labour and operators.
Both Abbas and Ugochinyere reaffirmed the Legislature’s commitment to partnering with the Executive, regulators, and private sector stakeholders to secure Nigeria’s energy future.
“Together, we can make Nigeria the energy powerhouse of Africa,” Ugochinyere declared.
The 2025 Downstream Petroleum Week continues with exhibitions, panel sessions, and technical discussions on refining, renewable integration, decarbonisation, and investment opportunities in Nigeria’s evolving energy sector.
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