The Authority Chief Executive Mallam Rabiu A Umar, has reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s energy security, accelerating gas utilisation and delivering efficient regulation as the country adapts to the evolving global energy landscape.
He was peaking at the opening ceremony of the 49th Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE 2026) in Lagos, themed “Thriving in the Evolving Global Energy Landscape: Collaborative Growth and Resilience.”
Umar said the Authority’s regulatory approach would be guided by the principles of being Firm, Fair and Fast, while ensuring compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and fostering an enabling environment for investment.
He highlighted Nigeria’s transformation into a regional refining hub through the growth of both large-scale and modular refineries, stressing that the NMDPRA remains committed to enforcing Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligations to guarantee feedstock availability for local refineries while maintaining commercial balance across the value chain.
The Authority Chief Executive also underscored the importance of expanding gas infrastructure, noting ongoing efforts to support the completion of the AKK Gas Pipeline, increase LPG and CNG adoption, and promote gas commercialisation under the Decade of Gas initiative.
He added that the Authority is implementing market reforms aimed at improving gas distribution, encouraging investment and advancing Nigeria’s energy transition.
Umar called for stronger collaboration among regulators, operators, financiers and technology providers to build a resilient energy sector capable of meeting both domestic and regional demand. He also highlighted the Authority’s engagement through the West Africa Regulators Forum to enhance regional market integration and transparency.