The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has called for faster implementation of reforms in the oil and gas sector, warning that delays in project delivery could undermine investments and weaken Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global energy market.
The Authority’s Chief Executive, Rabiu Umar represented by the Executive Director, Corporate Services, Mr. Bashir Sadiq, made the call on Thursday at the 5th edition of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) Energy and Labour Summit in Abuja.
Umar said Nigeria must build a safe, competitive and attractive energy industry capable of creating jobs, attracting investments and delivering greater value to the economy.
He stressed that people remained at the centre of the country’s energy development, calling for increased investment in skills, technology, innovation and human capital.
According to him, investors can manage risks when policies and regulations are clear and consistently implemented, but uncertainty makes investment decisions more difficult.
“We need clear rules, standards, stable interpretation and participation of all the major stakeholders,” he said.
The NMDPRA boss identified policy consistency, faster project delivery, gas development, security, local content, workforce development, host-community engagement and execution discipline as critical priorities for the industry.
He warned that delays could significantly erode the value of energy projects.
“A project delayed by one year is not simply postponed. It loses value, becomes harder to justify and competes less effectively in the global portfolio,” he said.
Umar also called for increased investment in gas infrastructure, describing gas as a critical engine of national economic growth with the potential to support industries, power generation and broader economic development.
On security, he acknowledged improvements in the sector but stressed the need to sustain the gains to protect workers, production facilities, investments and government revenue.
He further advocated stronger local content participation, insisting that Nigerian companies and professionals must be empowered based on performance, quality, sustainability and value creation rather than mere compliance with regulations.
The NMDPRA chief urged operators to prioritise workers’ safety, skills development and constructive labour relations, noting that workers remained central to the successful delivery of projects.
He also emphasised the importance of host communities, saying sustainable projects could not thrive without the acceptance and cooperation of communities.
He encouraged industry stakeholders to make effective use of the host community development framework established under the Petroleum Industry Act while maintaining continuous engagement with affected communities.
Umar said Nigeria had the resources, skilled workforce, market and ambition required to remain a major global energy player.
He, however, stressed that the country must accelerate the conversion of reforms into tangible projects, jobs and economic value.
He said achieving the objective would require stability, discipline, trust and effective execution, adding that these were essential to making Nigeria one of the most attractive destinations for oil and gas investment.
