The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regulatory certainty, transparency and stakeholder engagement as critical drivers of investment and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
The commitment was reiterated at the opening of the 2026 General Counsel and Legal Advisers Forum in Abuja.
The two-day Forum, themed “Beyond Compliance: Driving Regulatory Certainty and Investment Confidence in Nigeria’s Petroleum Sector,” brought together general counsel, legal advisers, regulators and industry stakeholders to explore practical approaches to improving regulatory effectiveness, strengthening compliance and enhancing Nigeria’s attractiveness as a preferred investment destination.
Declaring the Forum open, the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, commended the NMDPRA for institutionalising the Forum as a strategic platform for sustained dialogue between regulators and the legal leadership of licensed operators.
He stressed that Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global energy market depends not only on compliance but also on regulatory clarity, consistency and predictability that inspire investor confidence.
The Minister also highlighted the progress made through the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and the deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector, noting that the reforms have expanded domestic refining capacity, improved product availability and created new opportunities across the petroleum value chain.
He urged legal advisers to serve as strategic partners in strengthening governance, enabling responsible investment and supporting the continued growth of the industry.
In his opening remarks, the Authority Chief Executive, Mallam Rabiu Abdullahi Umar, described the Forum as a strategic platform for collaboration between the Authority and the legal leadership of licensed operators.
He noted that while compliance remains the foundation of effective regulation, the broader objective is to build a business environment characterised by certainty, predictability and investor confidence through fair, transparent and consistent regulation.
Delivering a presentation, the Legal Adviser of the Authority, Dr Joseph Tolorunse, stated that while compliance would always remain the foundation of an effective regulatory system, it could not be the destination.
“The destination is confidence. Confidence that investors can make long term decisions with clarity, that operators understand regulatory expectations, and that the Authority will regulate fairly, transparently and consistently to build a resilient, competitive and globally attractive petroleum sector,” he said.
The opening day of the Forum also featured panel discussions on “Driving Regulatory Certainty and Investor Confidence” and “Exploring Legal and Commercial Entry Points for Investment in Nigeria’s Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Value Chain,” providing participants with practical insights into strengthening the sector’s regulatory and investment landscape.
