Nigeria’s House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) has called for stronger domestic crude supply obligations, increased pipeline surveillance funding and legislative safeguards for local refineries to consolidate gains in the petroleum sector.
The committee said strategic cooperation among President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and private sector leaders, including Aliko Dangote, had helped advance initiatives across the midstream and downstream petroleum sectors.
The committee’s Chairman, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, announced the resolutions in Abuja at a technical briefing marking the end of Downstream Week 2026.
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Ugochinyere said the committee’s assessment showed improvements in domestic refining, fuel supply and pipeline security, while stressing the need for sustained government support to consolidate the gains.
He commended the NMDPRA Chief Executive, Rabiu Abdullahi Umar, and the authority’s executive directors for their performance, saying the regulator had “brought stability where there was uncertainty”.
Figures presented at the briefing indicated that domestic refineries now accounted for more than 75 per cent of national petrol supply, while Nigeria had recorded no supply shortfalls and maintained more than 25 days of national sufficiency.
The committee also highlighted the commissioning of the Port Harcourt petroleum product laboratory, the licensing of a petroleum liquid trading exchange described as Africa’s first, and the completion of a framework for a National Strategic Stock capable of covering up to 20 days of supply.
The Lawmakers said plans were underway to increase the strategic reserve to 90 days in 2027.
The committee expressed confidence that Nigeria could achieve its target of producing three million barrels of crude oil per day, attributing the recent increase in output partly to improved pipeline surveillance and security.
Ugochinyere explained that better protection of oil infrastructure would reduce crude losses, increase feedstock availability for domestic refineries and boost government revenue.
“Fewer breaches mean less crude lost, more product for our refineries, and more revenue for the Federation,” the committee’s Chairman said.
The committee urged the Nigerian Government to increase funding for pipeline surveillance contractors and ensure the timely release of funds and provision of logistics needed to sustain operations.
It commended the contractors for their contributions but maintained that improved funding and operational support would further strengthen crude oil production.
Ugochinyere disclosed that the committee was also working on legislation to address persistent challenges in crude oil supply to domestic refineries.
“A refinery without reliable crude is an investment at risk,” he stressed.
The chairman called for statutory guarantees on crude supply, fair market access and a stable policy environment.
On petroleum product importation, Ugochinyere maintained that imports should be permitted only to address verified supply shortfalls rather than serve as a permanent alternative to domestic refining.
“Our goal is balance: security of supply today, and a strong domestic refining industry for tomorrow,” he said.
The committee also disclosed that it had rejected a World Bank recommendation on import licences, insisting that Nigeria’s energy policy must reflect the country’s economic and industrial priorities.
“Nigeria’s energy policy must be written in Nigeria,” Ugochinyere declared.
He noted that the committee was advancing the Petroleum Industry Act (Amendment) Bill to strengthen provisions on domestic crude supply, licensing, protection of local refiners and regulation of petroleum product imports.
The committee also commended Dangote over the ongoing initial public offering of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, describing the facility as a strategic national investment valued at about 20 billion dollars.
Ugochinyere said the refinery had introduced fresh momentum into the downstream petroleum market, adding that the National Assembly would support measures to protect domestic refining investments while ensuring fair competition.
He also praised petroleum marketers’ associations, including the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria.
He noted that the associations had invested in depots, jetties, trucks and filling stations, helping to sustain distribution and bridge supply gaps whenever domestic output fell short.
The committee said the marketers’ contributions remained important to national fuel security, particularly as Nigeria worked to expand local refining capacity.
Meanwhile, the committee has established two subcommittees to investigate petitions seeking the cancellation of gas distribution licences issued to NIPCO Plc and alleging money laundering and abuse of office against NNPC Limited’s Executive Vice President, Downstream, Dr Mumuni Dagazau.
The petition against NIPCO seeks an investigation, suspension and cancellation of gas distribution licences issued by the NMDPRA to the company for Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Osun states, as well as the Lagos and Lekki Free Trade Zones.
The petitioners have also requested a public hearing on the matter.
The committee appointed a subcommittee chaired by Mathew Nwogu, with Shehu Dalhatu as deputy, to conduct a preliminary investigation and report its findings to the main committee.
In the second petition, Dagazau was accused of money laundering and abuse of office.
The committee appointed another subcommittee, chaired by Aliyu Ibrahim Al-Mustapha, with Cyril Hart as deputy, to investigate the allegations and submit its report within seven days.
Ugochinyere emphasised that the petitions had not been proven and that the committee had yet to reach any conclusion on the allegations.
“These are allegations, and the Committee has reached no conclusion on them. All parties will be given a full and fair opportunity to be heard,” he said.
He reiterated that the committee would not ignore complaints capable of affecting public confidence in the downstream petroleum sector.
The chairman also disclosed that the committee had opened an inquiry into alleged underpayment for crude oil by some companies and questioned NNPC Limited over legacy transactions and refinery rehabilitation.
“We will not accept silence as an answer,” he stressed.
Neither NIPCO Plc nor Dagazau had publicly responded to the petitions as of the time of the briefing.
The committee said the investigations would proceed alongside its legislative and oversight activities aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability and efficiency in Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
