The Senate Committee on Downstream Petroleum Sector has pledged to end the ongoing jurisdictional dispute between the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority (OGFZA).
Senator Abdulrahman Sumaila, Chairman of the committee, made the promise at the end of a five-day retreat in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Friday. He said the committee will produce practical recommendations to promote harmony, attract investors, ensure energy security and support economic growth.
Sumaila explained that the retreat provided a neutral ground for stakeholders to discuss overlapping mandates. The committee aims to create a clear coordination framework that respects each agency’s legal roles. It will also check if new laws or amendments are necessary to remove ambiguities.
“The committee will examine all presentations and legal arguments,” he stated. “We will offer unbiased, evidence-based solutions for both immediate and long-term fixes.”
He added that the group will recommend legislative, policy or constitutional
changes if needed to serve the national interest.
The chairman said the ultimate goal is to build a regulatory system based on cooperation, efficiency, accountability and legal certainty. This will strengthen Nigeria’s position as Africa’s leading energy hub.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Bamanga Jada, Managing Director of the OGFZA, called on all agencies to stop actions that create unhealthy regulatory confusion.
He urged them to support a business-friendly environment and adopt the one-stop-shop principle used in successful free zones worldwide.
He cited Dangote Industries Free Zone as an example that should enjoy coordinated regulation
