The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has lauded the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for its transformative role in stabilizing and growing the downstream oil sector. According to DAPPMAN, the regulatory agency’s strategic leadership, policy consistency, and stakeholder engagement have greatly enhanced operational efficiency, product availability, and investor confidence in Nigeria’s energy industry.

In a statement made available to the press on Monday, DAPPMAN’s Executive Secretary, Olufemi Adewole, hailed the NMDPRA for fostering a competitive market environment through what he described as “firm, fair, and functional” regulatory practices. He commended the Authority’s leadership under Engineer Farouk Ahmed for introducing transparency, innovation, and market-driven reforms that are yielding measurable progress across the petroleum downstream value chain.


Adewole noted that the NMDPRA’s coordination with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and other key stakeholders has significantly curbed fuel scarcity across the country. He pointed to the uninterrupted supply of petroleum products in recent months as evidence of a well-structured regulatory and supply system that is now stabilizing after years of volatility.

He also highlighted that regulatory innovations introduced by the NMDPRA—including real-time product tracking through the Automated Downstream System (ADS)—have been instrumental in curbing hoarding, illegal sales, and fuel adulteration. According to internal security data from the NNPC, cross-border fuel smuggling has reduced by 35% due to enhanced monitoring and enforcement by the Authority.


The Executive Secretary cited the Authority’s streamlined licensing processes and investor-friendly posture as catalysts for recent capital inflows into modular refining. From 2022 to date, the NMDPRA has attracted over $1.2 billion in investments into modular refineries, as documented in the 2024 Industry Brief. These investments are expected to boost domestic refining capacity and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products.

“The NMDPRA has strengthened investor confidence through its predictable regulatory framework, licensing transparency, and zero tolerance for non-compliance. These measures are driving private sector participation in refining and distribution,” Adewole said.


Adewole also applauded the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, which empowers the NMDPRA to pursue a fully deregulated market. He stated that the Act has enabled policies that promote fair competition, price liberalization, and private capital inflow. According to him, the PIA has also laid the groundwork for long-term sectoral sustainability and economic contribution.

“DAPPMAN fully supports NMDPRA’s ongoing efforts to align its regulatory actions with market realities, and we are seeing this translate into operational efficiency, fuel quality improvement, and greater energy access,” he added.

He further praised the Authority for engaging industry stakeholders in strategic dialogues and consultations, ensuring that policies reflect the needs and realities of market participants while aligning with global best practices.


Adewole urged all players in the downstream sector to work closely with the NMDPRA in deepening reforms, encouraging innovation, and scaling energy solutions for national development. He stressed that sustained regulatory clarity, infrastructure investment, and policy enforcement would ensure the downstream sector’s full potential is realized.

“Ultimately, what the downstream industry needs is sustained collaboration—between regulators, operators, and government—to complete the journey toward deregulation and turn the energy sector into a major engine of Nigeria’s economic transformation,” he said.

With continued stakeholder synergy, the downstream oil sector is poised for expansion, job creation, and improved energy access across Nigeria, aligning with the country’s broader goals of industrialization and economic resilience.