Indorama Petrochemical and Fertilizer Facility in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has been commended for its immense contributions describing it as a clear manifestation of the kind of industrial growth Nigeria needs to drive sustainable economic development.
The new Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Saidu Aliyu Mohammed gave the commendation while addressing journalists after a tour of the Indorama facility during a three-day operational visit to some midstream and downstream oil and gas facilities in Rivers State. The NMDPRA boss said the project represents the fulfillment of a vision conceived over 30 years ago.
He noted that the success recorded at Indorama underscores the importance of continuity in leadership and long-term planning, applauding past leaders as the architects who laid the foundation for today’s achievements.
“What we have seen at Indorama is a manifestation of what Nigeria needs. We need more of this kind of development in the midstream sector,” . “Value addition to our hydrocarbon resources through fertilizer plants and other derivative products is critical if the nation must truly progress” he said.
Engr. Mohammed stressed that Nigeria has no justification for importing products such as fertilizers and urea, given its vast gas resources. He expressed optimism that with the ongoing expansion at Indorama and similar facilities across the country, Nigeria would, within the next 24 months, join the league of urea-exporting nations.
“This is where Nigeria should be — not just as a source of energy, but also as a hub for secondary derivatives of oil and gas,” he added.
The NMDPRA Chief Executive described the midstream segment of the oil and gas industry as capital-intensive, estimating that between $30 billion and $50 billion in investments are required to fully unlock its potential and place Nigeria on a sustainable growth path.
He attributed recent successes to effective partnerships with the private sector, noting that while the dreams of industrialization had long existed, progress was limited until the right collaborative framework was established.
On Rivers State, Engr. Mohammed described it as a strategic hub for Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain, citing its abundance of gas processing plants, manufacturing facilities, refineries, and other industrial assets.
“Rivers State has almost every sample we need to see across the oil and gas value chain. If you want to see gas processing, manufacturing, or refining, it is all here,” he said.
He explained that the tour was aimed at giving the Authority an overview of ongoing p, while assuring that the NMDPRA would continue to play its role as a facilitator by creating an enabling environment for existing investments to thrive and for new ones to be attracted.
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“The essence of this visit is to give support and ensure that investors continue to expand while we attract even more investments into the sector,” he said, adding that the three-day visit was not sufficient to cover all facilities in the state.
“I may finish this visit on Friday, but I will be back. There are many industries in Rivers State that we still need to cover,” he concluded.
Responding , the Chief Executive Officer of Indorama Fertilizer Limited, Mr. Munish Jindal, lauded the NMDPRA leadership for the visit, describing it as critical to effective regulation and sustained growth of the midstream sector.
Jindal said regulatory visits allow authorities to see operations firsthand, better understand industry realities, and appreciate the scale of investments and progress achieved over time.
“These visits are very important from a regulator’s point of view. When regulators come and see things for themselves, they understand what has been delivered here over the last 20 years,” he said.
He expressed appreciation to the new NMDPRA Chief Executive for undertaking the visit with his management team, noting that the Authority’s leadership had been closely involved since the early days of the Eleme Petrochemical Complex, when plans for Phase Two and Phase Three expansions were first envisioned.
According to him, the visit provided an opportunity for the Chief Executive to see firsthand that those long-held dreams have now been fully delivered by Indorama.
On expectations from the Authority under the new leadership, Jindal said Indorama and the wider midstream manufacturing industry were not seeking special concessions, but rather regulatory adjustments that reflect the realities of manufacturing operations.
He explained that some existing regulatory requirements were designed primarily for upstream oil and gas operations and are no longer relevant to midstream manufacturing and fertilizer production.
“Our request is not for Indorama alone, but for the industry as a whole, that certain provisions which are not applicable to manufacturing be reviewed and exemptions considered where appropriate,” he said.
Jindal added that the improved understanding between regulators and the midstream industry over the past 18 years has been instrumental to growth, expressing confidence that continued collaboration under the new NMDPRA leadership would further support expansion and attract more investments into Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain.
