Downstream Sector Still Faces Infrastructure Deficit – Minister

Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, has said Nigeria’s downstream assemblage continues to look issues related to infrastructure deficit, marketplace vulnerability, proviso concatenation inefficiencies and the request for regulatory clarity.

Ekpo spoke astatine the archetypal yearly downstream petroleum week organised by the House of Representatives Committee connected Petroleum Resources (Downstream) astatine the National Assembly Complex successful Abuja yesterday.

He said addressing these challenges requires sustained collaboration betwixt the enforcement and legislature, underpinned by dependable argumentation absorption and accordant implementation arsenic good arsenic enhanced backstage assemblage participation, concern successful exertion and adherence to planetary practices.

The curate said, implicit the past fewer years, Nigeria’s downstream assemblage has recorded singular improvement from the implementation of deregulation policies and liberalisation of the petroleum marketplace to renew backstage concern successful home refining and retention capacity.

“We are besides witnessing translation successful our state worth concatenation arsenic portion of the consciousness of urgency of President Tinubu’s renewed Hope Agenda . The Take Care of Gas inaugural is driving an ambitious programme to deepen home state utilisation, grow infrastructure and accelerate the modulation to cleaner energy, specified arsenic compressed earthy state CNG and liquefied earthy state and petroleum state LPG.

“These efforts are designed to heighten vigor accessibility, trim dependence connected imported fuels and make caller economical opportunities for Nigerians, from households and tiny businesses to ample standard industries.

“However, portion these achievements are commendable, we indispensable besides beryllium honorable astir the challenges that persist. Our downstream assemblage continues to look issues related to infrastructure deficit, marketplace vulnerabilty, proviso concatenation inefficiencies, and the request for regulatory clarity.

“Addressing this requires sustained collaboration betwixt the enforcement and legislature, underpinned by dependable argumentation absorption and accordant implementation. It is besides a telephone for enhanced backstage assemblage participation, concern successful technology, and adherence to planetary practices.

“As policymakers, regulators and operators, we indispensable guarantee that reforms are people-centered, designed to marque magnitude much affordable, accessible and sustainable for each Nigerians,” helium added.

Also speaking, president of the House Committee connected Petroleum (Downstream), Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere disclosed plans to present a caller authorities that volition assistance section refineries the archetypal close of refusal connected crude lipid allocations.

Ugochinyere said the House would besides make a Refinery Protection and Promotion Bill to classify refineries arsenic strategical nationalist assets—ensuring they person precedence extortion and support.

The projected law, helium added, volition warrant unhindered entree to crude feedstock and safeguard refinery operations crossed the country.

According to him, the measures are important for sustaining capitalist confidence, creating jobs, and strengthening Nigeria’s vigor independence.

He commended the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for enforcing the Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligation (DCSO) connected each producers, describing it arsenic a bold determination that guarantees section refineries—both modular and conventional—access to crude earlier export allocations are made.

“It represents a decisive displacement from argumentation rhetoric to applicable enactment for section worth addition, occupation creation, and vigor independence,” Ugochinyere stated.

“By ensuring that each tube of Nigerian crude archetypal serves the Nigerian refinery, the NUPRC has sent a beardown signal: Nigeria volition refine what it produces and devour what it refines.”

Acknowledging caller labour concerns involving Dangote Refinery and assemblage unions, the lawmaker noted that specified challenges are not uncommon successful processing economies but indispensable not beryllium allowed to undermine productivity and nationalist stability.

He urged labour unions and manufacture operators to prosecute dialog implicit disruptions, assuring that the committee stands acceptable to facilitate peace, fairness, and communal respect successful concern engagements.

“Our shared extremity indispensable beryllium to support jobs, prolong businesses, and beforehand Nigeria’s economical sovereignty. Compliance with tax, safety, and biology standards is not optional—it is simply a patriotic work and a people of existent concern successful nationalist development,” helium said.

Ugochinyere besides commended the NMDPRA, NUPRC, marketers, and different captious manufacture stakeholders specified arsenic PETROAN, NOGASA, MEMAN, NARTO, IPMAN, NGA, DAPPMAN, and depot owners who proceed to prolong the nation’s vigor proviso concatenation contempt challenging conditions.