The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Abbas Tajudeen, has commended the steady transformation of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, describing the downstream sector as experiencing an unprecedented revival under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
He gave the commendation at the First Annual Downstream Petroleum Week, 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), held in Abuja.
Represented by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Benjamin Kalu, the Speaker said the conference, themed “Celebrating Our Successes, Confronting Our Challenges and Finding Solutions for the Petroleum Downstream Sector”, was both timely and significant. He noted that the forum served as a reminder that Nigeria has many success stories and that its challenges are surmountable through collaboration, quality assurance, and open dialogue among key stakeholders.
Mr Tajudeen highlighted the take-off of the Dangote Refinery as a major milestone in Nigeria’s quest for energy self-sufficiency. He added that the expected emergence of other indigenous private refineries underscored the National Assembly’s role in creating an enabling environment for industries to thrive.
He emphasised that outcomes from forums such as this make legislative interventions more relevant and effective, ensuring the support and cooperation of industry players.
“I am delighted, and excited to welcome you all to the First Annual Downstream Petroleum Week organised by the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
“As I look around at the quality of representation here, I feel confident that this event will become one of the most defining moments in the evolution of the downstream petroleum sector. Our hope is that as thinkers, innovators, workers and policy advocates, your collaboration will finally reshape the industry, setting agenda for growth, transparency and sustainable practices.”
Mr Tajudeen praised the Committee Chairman, Hon. (Barr.) Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, and other members for convening what he described as a “historic national conference,” attended by leading stakeholders including the NNPCL, PENGASSAN, and the Dangote Group.
He noted that such stakeholder-driven events reinforce citizens’ confidence in the National Assembly’s commitment to sustainable national development.
The Speaker attributed recent progress in the petroleum sector to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, which, he said, restructured governance and fiscal frameworks in the industry.
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“The evolution in the petroleum industry today has been made possible by the landmark passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (2021)… That law restructured the NNPC, transforming it into a commercial entity and established such regulatory bodies as the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), thus renewing investors’ confidence, reducing oil pilferage, promoting transparency and competition, and generally improving operational efficiency,” he said.
He stressed that the National Assembly remains committed to enacting policies and providing oversight that strengthen the downstream sector, making it more secure, efficient, and resilient.
“This conference therefore provides an invaluable opportunity for improved legislation. By bringing together government, industry, labour and investors to share perspectives, confront challenges, and develop practical, forward-looking solutions to the challenges in the sector, this forum ensures that the conversations to be had here will inform the framework of any policy in the energy landscape for years to come.”
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, also commended the National Assembly for ensuring accountability and advancing citizens’ welfare through effective policy oversight.
He noted that Nigeria’s downstream sector had witnessed remarkable progress in recent years, from regulatory reforms and market liberalisation to renewed private investment in domestic refining and storage capacity.
“We are also witnessing a transformation in our gas value chain as part of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The Decade of Gas initiative is driving an ambitious programme to deepen domestic gas utilisation, expand infrastructure, and transition to cleaner fuels such as compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). These efforts are designed to enhance energy accessibility, reduce dependence on imported fuels, and create new economic opportunities for Nigerians,” he said.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Mr Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, urged labour unions and stakeholders in the oil industry to embrace dialogue in resolving disputes.
He acknowledged recent labour concerns involving the Dangote Refinery and sector unions but warned that such issues should never be allowed to disrupt national productivity or stability.
He assured stakeholders that the National Assembly was always ready to mediate and promote peace, fairness, and mutual respect in all industrial engagements.
Mr Ugochinyere explained that the Downstream Petroleum Week was designed to become a recurring platform for national dialogue, performance review, and policy evaluation to achieve a transparent and competitive downstream sector.
The event also featured goodwill messages from the Senate, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and other key stakeholders in the oil and gas industry.