Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Dr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, says the nation’s downstream petroleum sector is entering a new phase of transformation driven by deregulation, liberalisation, and renewed private investment.
The Minister stressed that sustained collaboration across government and industry is essential to consolidate the gains so far recorded.
Speaking at the 2025 Annual Downstream Petroleum Week Conference organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) in Abuja, Ekpo said the government’s reform agenda was already reshaping the market landscape, yet key challenges remain in infrastructure, market stability, and policy alignment.
“While Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector has made remarkable progress through deregulation, liberalization, and renewed private investment, there is still more work to be done,” the Minister said.
He emphasised that the sector’s success hinges on stronger partnerships between the public and private sectors, as well as coordination among regulatory agencies to ensure that ongoing reforms translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
“To sustain the gains achieved so far, we must deepen collaboration between government, the private sector, and industry regulators,” he noted.
“No single arm of government can do it alone. Together, we must strengthen infrastructure, stabilize market systems, and ensure that reforms deliver tangible benefits to Nigerians.”
Dr. Ekpo reaffirmed that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Decade of Gas Initiative are steering the country toward cleaner, more affordable, and more accessible energy solutions, particularly through Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG, expansion.
“Under the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, our Renewed Hope Agenda and the Decade of Gas Initiative are steering the nation toward cleaner, more affordable, and more accessible energy, especially through CNG and LPG adoption,” he stated.
He said the ongoing reforms were part of a deliberate strategy to transition Nigeria’s energy system into a diversified and resilient economy, where gas plays a central role in achieving energy security and industrial growth.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of downstream development as a catalyst for job creation, investment attraction, and innovation within the energy value chain.
“With synergy and shared purpose, we can transform our downstream sector into a robust engine of growth, innovation, and prosperity for all,” Ekpo affirmed.
Stakeholders at the event commended the Ministry’s efforts to drive policy stability and investor confidence, describing the current direction as critical to Nigeria’s ambition of building a self-sustaining downstream market anchored on efficiency, transparency, and sustainability.
