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By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has stepped in to ease rising tensions between petroleum importers and local refiners, opening discussions with key operators in the downstream oil and gas industry as part of efforts to build consensus on reforms aimed at guaranteeing energy security, stable fuel supply and long-term sector growth.

The move came during an interactive session organised on Tuesday by the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), where executives of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) met with lawmakers to examine the future of the industry.

Deliberations focused on finding the right balance between encouraging local refining and maintaining adequate fuel supplies across the country.

Chairman of the committee, Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere, said the engagement reflected the House’s commitment to carrying stakeholders along in shaping reforms for the sector, stressing that meaningful progress could only be achieved through collaboration.

“We are here not to interrogate, not to accuse and not to put anyone on trial. We are here to listen. We are here to talk to one another as partners who share one common destiny, a Nigeria where energy is affordable, supply is stable and no citizen suffers because petroleum products are out of reach,” he said.

He assured operators that the National Assembly will not introduce policies affecting the downstream sector without extensive consultations with industry players whose investments sustain the country’s fuel distribution network.

According to him, Nigeria’s energy landscape is changing rapidly with increasing domestic refining capacity, shifting import patterns and renewed efforts to strengthen pipeline security and improve distribution.

“The marketers, depot owners, independent operators and major marketers remain the bridge between government policy and the pump. When that bridge is strong, Nigerians enjoy stable prices and reliable supply. When it is weak, the entire nation feels the consequences,” he stated.

Ugochinyere pledged that the committee will carefully study submissions from stakeholders before proposing legislative measures aimed at encouraging investment, strengthening local refining, promoting healthy competition and ensuring affordable and uninterrupted fuel supply.

He also assured industry operators that the committee will continue to embrace dialogue rather than confrontation in carrying out its oversight responsibilities.

Presenting DAPPMAN’s position, Executive Secretary of the association, Olufemi Adewole, called on the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to develop practical operating-stock guidelines in line with Section 182 of the Petroleum Industry Act.

He said the framework should establish clear standards for stock measurement, reporting, quality assurance and accessibility, while emphasising that strategic reserves should be assessed not only by product volume but also by the industry’s capacity to finance, transport and deploy products quickly during emergencies.

DAPPMAN also proposed the creation of a joint market-monitoring framework involving the NMDPRA and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to track product availability, monitor market concentration, ensure fair treatment of operators and identify early signs of supply disruptions.

The association further urged government to prioritise investment in roads, rail infrastructure, inland waterways, pipelines and petroleum depots to reduce reliance on long-distance trucking from coastal supply centres.

It also advocated the establishment of a permanent government-industry consultative platform bringing together regulators, refiners, marketers, NNPC Limited, transport agencies and security institutions to periodically review supply conditions, infrastructure gaps and emerging risks.

In its presentation, IPMAN described the downstream petroleum industry as one of Nigeria’s most strategic economic sectors, noting that it plays a critical role in supporting households, transportation, agriculture, healthcare, industry and national security.

The association observed that the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, fuel price deregulation, rehabilitation of state-owned refineries and the emergence of large private refineries have positioned Nigeria to become a leading refining and petroleum distribution hub on the African continent.

However, it warned that several obstacles continue to slow the industry’s progress, including high financing costs, multiple taxation, exchange rate volatility, inadequate storage and transportation infrastructure, pipeline vandalism, limited access to refinery products by independent marketers, delayed payment of bridging and NTA claims, and insufficient engagement with stakeholders.

IPMAN therefore urged the committee to support reforms that would improve logistics, strengthen competition, lower distribution costs, attract investment and ensure the sustainable availability of petroleum products nationwide.

Speaking on behalf of MEMAN, Executive Secretary Clement Isong acknowledged that Nigeria now has the capacity to refine petroleum products locally, satisfy domestic demand and export refined products.

He, however, cautioned against placing blanket restrictions on fuel imports, arguing that government should retain the flexibility to approve imports whenever necessary to protect national energy security.

According to him, strategic imports remain essential during supply shortages and unexpected market disruptions, helping to shield consumers from sharp price increases and fuel scarcity.

Isong also recommended that Nigeria establish a strategic petroleum reserve capable of sustaining at least 60 days of national consumption to cushion the country against global supply shocks and price volatility.

He cited the Liquefied Petroleum Gas market as an example where increased imports successfully bridged supply gaps and stabilised prices, demonstrating the importance of timely regulatory intervention.

While reaffirming MEMAN’s support for policies aimed at boosting domestic refining, he maintained that decisions on petroleum imports should remain the responsibility of the Federal Government and the NMDPRA to ensure adequate supply, preserve healthy competition and protect consumers.

Although stakeholders expressed differing views on the future of petroleum imports and domestic refining, they agreed on the need for consistent government policies, improved infrastructure, stronger regulatory coordination and sustained engagement to build a more resilient and competitive downstream petroleum industry capable of meeting Nigeria’s long-term energy needs.