By Tracy Moses
The House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) has passed votes of confidence on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the leadership of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and Alhaji Aliko Dangote, expressing support for ongoing reforms in the petroleum sector.
The committee said Nigeria’s drive towards energy security was gaining momentum, citing increased contributions from domestic refineries to petrol supply, improved supply stability and regulatory initiatives aimed at strengthening the downstream market.
The committee’s chairman, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, announced the resolutions on Monday in Abuja during a technical briefing marking the end of Downstream Week 2026. He also reviewed the committee’s activities and outlined priorities for the sector.
Ugochinyere commended the NMDPRA Authority Chief Executive, Engr. Rabiu Abdullahi Umar, and the authority’s executive directors for what he described as a job well done, saying the regulator had “brought stability where there was uncertainty”.
According to figures presented at the briefing, domestic refineries now account for more than 75 per cent of national petrol supply, with no supply shortfalls recorded and more than 25 days of national sufficiency maintained.
The committee chairman also highlighted the commissioning of the Port Harcourt petroleum product laboratory, the licensing of what he described as Africa’s first petroleum liquid trading exchange, and the finalisation of a framework for a National Strategic Stock capable of holding up to 20 days’ supply.
He said plans were underway to expand the strategic reserve to 90 days in 2027 to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to withstand supply disruptions.
Four Priorities for Energy Security
Reviewing the outcomes of the Downstream Week technical sessions, Ugochinyere outlined four key positions adopted by the committee: pipeline security was essential to supply security; domestic refining had transformed Nigeria’s petroleum supply outlook; imports should serve as “a supplement for verified shortfall, not a permanent substitute”; and the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation must be enforced.
He stressed that reliable crude oil supplies to domestic refineries were essential to sustaining investments in local refining and reducing dependence on imported petroleum products.
Ugochinyere also disclosed that the committee had rejected a World Bank recommendation on import licences, insisting that Nigeria must determine its petroleum policy in line with its national priorities.
“Nigeria’s energy policy must be written in Nigeria,” he said.
He further revealed that the committee had launched an inquiry into allegations that some companies underpaid for crude oil. He said the committee had also questioned NNPC Limited over legacy transactions and refinery rehabilitation.
“We will not accept silence as an answer,” he said.
The committee’s position comes amid efforts to boost domestic refining, increase crude oil production and establish a regulatory framework that balances local supply with the need to prevent shortages.
Dangote Refinery, Marketers Commended
The committee also commended Dangote for the ongoing initial public offering (IPO) of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, describing the development as a source of fresh momentum for the downstream petroleum market.
Ugochinyere described the refinery, valued at approximately $20 billion in the committee’s briefing, as an investment of strategic national importance that deserved protection while ensuring fair competition among industry operators.
The refinery has expanded Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity and raised expectations of reduced dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
However, the committee maintained that protecting local refining investments must go hand in hand with transparent regulation, reliable crude oil supplies and a competitive market.
Ugochinyere also praised the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) for their investments in depots, jetties, trucks and filling stations.
He said the associations had “stepped in to close the gap” whenever domestic output fell short of demand.
PIA Amendment Bill
The committee said it would continue to pursue the Petroleum Industry Act (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to strengthen provisions on crude oil supply, licensing, protection of domestic refiners and the regulation of petroleum product imports.
It reiterated that imports should remain available to address verified supply shortfalls but should not become a permanent substitute for domestic production.
The committee said its resolutions were aimed at consolidating the gains of ongoing reforms and building a more resilient petroleum sector capable of meeting domestic demand while supporting economic growth.
It added that achieving this goal would require sustained improvements in local refining, reliable crude oil supplies, stronger pipeline security and effective regulation of petroleum product imports.