… expand gas utlisation and reposition Nigeria as Africa’s energy hub
Ayomide Bello
Nigeria’s midstream and downstream energy regulator has set out an ambitious plan to overhaul oversight of the petroleum sector, expand gas utilisation and reposition the country as Africa’s energy hub, as a new chief executive takes the helm amid mounting pressure to deliver energy security and economic growth.
Addressing staff at the start of 2026, Engr. Saidu Mohammed, the newly appointed Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), said the agency would pursue sweeping reforms aimed at making it a ‘best-in-class regulator’ while accelerating Nigeria’s transition to a gas-led industrial economy.
Mohammed, who thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the confidence placed in him, acknowledged that Nigeria’s labour and fuel markets appear stable on the surface but warned that deeper structural challenges persist, particularly around infrastructure gaps, domestic supply obligations and long-term sustainability.
“NMDPRA must now move from foundation-building to acceleration,” he said, noting that the authority, created under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), is just over four years old, adding, “This is the moment to translate regulatory clarity into visible impact for households, industries and investors.”
Thus, at the centre of the new agenda is a commitment to energy security and gas expansion.
Mohammed said Nigeria would need to increase gas utilisation by an additional 15 billion cubic feet per day to meet the high-case demand scenario under the federal government’s Decade of Gas programme.
The expansion is expected to support domestic industries, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) mobility, gas distribution networks and midstream gas infrastructure projects, all seen as critical to the government’s $1tn economy ambition.
The regulator also plans to revive and relaunch its Industry Sustainability Initiative, tighten monitoring of national consumption figures and fully enforce domestic crude oil supply obligations under the PIA, measures long demanded by refiners and manufacturers facing supply shortfalls.
Beyond domestic priorities, Mohammed cast Nigeria as a potential anchor for Africa’s energy future.
He said the continent needed a credible energy hub with shared infrastructure, trading platforms and pricing references, and argued that Nigeria’s growing refining capacity and expanding energy markets placed it in a strong position to lead.
“We must help solve Africa’s energy poverty while securing Nigeria’s place in the global energy system,” he said.
Institutionally, the new chief executive promised tougher standards, automation of regulatory processes and a push for ISO 9001 certification, alongside reforms to internal governance, staff development and accountability.
He disclosed that a revised organogram and updated policy and procedure guide are expected later in the year.
Energy analysts say the rhetoric signals continuity with the Tinubu administration’s gas-first narrative, but warn that execution will be decisive.
They argued that the real test for the new helmsman will be to ensure that regulation becomes faster, more predictable and more investor-friendly.
For Mohammed, the message to staff was unequivocal.
He declared: “2026 will be a year of hard work, but it must also be a year of visible impact.”
As Nigeria grapples with rising energy demand, constrained infrastructure and the global shift towards cleaner fuels, the stakes for the country’s newest energy regulator could scarcely be higher.
