Abuja: The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has called for stronger collaboration between regulators and legal professionals to enhance regulatory certainty and attract investment into Nigeria’s petroleum sector. The Chief Executive of NMDPRA, Malam Rabiu Umar, made the call at its 2026 General Counsel and Legal Advisers Forum in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the forum, themed ‘Beyond Compliance: Driving Regulatory Certainty and Investment Confidence in Nigeria’s Petroleum Sector,’ brought together legal advisers, regulators, industry operators, and other stakeholders. Umar emphasized that effective regulation could not be achieved through laws and regulations alone, stressing the critical roles of legal advisers, compliance professionals, and regulators in translating regulatory requirements into practical outcomes.
Umar highlighted the importance of engagement in regulation, acknowledging existing implementation challenges and occasional ambiguities w
ithin regulatory frameworks. He committed that NMDPRA would continue to engage with stakeholders, act transparently, regulate fairly and consistently, and remain responsive to the evolving industry. The focus is on strengthening regulatory clarity, encouraging responsible investment, and fostering partnerships essential for achieving the objectives of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
He further noted that while compliance is foundational to a well-regulated petroleum industry, the goal is to build a sector characterized by certainty, transparency, predictability, and investor confidence. Such an environment would enable investors to commit capital confidently and allow operators to make long-term business decisions under clear regulatory expectations.
With five years since the implementation of the PIA, attention has shifted to the practical implementation and impact on the industry. Discussions now focus on how regulations are working in practice, market responses to reforms, investor views on emerging op
portunities, and institutional collaboration to achieve PIA’s objectives. The forum aims to generate practical solutions to strengthen the competitiveness, transparency, and sustainability of Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
Umar acknowledged existing implementation challenges and regulatory ambiguities, urging participants to contribute practical ideas to improve regulatory outcomes. He described the forum as a platform for open dialogue and feedback between the authority and legal representatives of licensed operators.
Dr. Joseph Tolorunse, Authority Secretary and Legal Adviser, NMDPRA, stated that Nigeria’s petroleum future would be defined by its hydrocarbon abundance and the credibility, predictability, and integrity of its regulatory institutions. Tolorunse emphasized that beyond compliance lies the path to sustained investments, confidence, economic growth, and national prosperity. He highlighted NMDPRA’s commitment to building compliance design, proactive stakeholder engagement, issue resolution throug
h dialogue, and treating regulatory certainty as a strategic business asset.