The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) announced on Tuesday, October 15, the revocation of all regulations previously administered by the now-defunct Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) concerning midstream and downstream operations. This revocation is part of the proposed Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Operations Regulations 2024.
In addition to these changes, the NMDPRA also revoked the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulations 2023, along with other regulations published in the Federal Gazette that have been consolidated into the 2024 Regulation and the Petroleum Refining Regulations of 1974.
According to the draft, the application and processing fees for licenses, permits, and authorisations are now shifted to the Midstream and Downstream Fees Regulation draft.
These developments were presented in a document titled “Structure of the Midstream and Downstream Regulations 2024” by Dr. Joseph Tolorunse, the Secretary and Legal Adviser, during a stakeholders’ consultative forum held in Abuja on Monday. “Any regulations administered by the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources in respect of Midstream and Downstream Petroleum operations are hereby revoked,” he stated.
NMDPRA Chief Executive, Engr. Farouk Ahmed, explained that the Ministry of Justice would vet the draft before the relevant government office gazettes it for publication. Represented by Mr. Ogbagu Ukoha, Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure (DSSRI), Ahmed added, “After today’s job is done, we will have to sit down with the Federal Ministry of Justice, who will look at it, cross the ‘Ts’, dot the ‘Is’, and then the requisite government office that gazettes regulations will publish it.”
Earlier, Ahmed had confirmed that the NMDPRA had secured the approval of both the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobri, and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, to proceed with publishing the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Fees Regulations. He added, “Following a successful stakeholder consultation and having received the approval of the Honourable Ministers of State for Petroleum Resources, [the regulations] will soon be published in the Federal Government Gazette.”
This consultation was conducted in compliance with Section 216 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, which mandates stakeholder engagement before finalising any regulations under the Act. Section 33 of the PIA authorises the Authority to create regulations for all midstream and downstream petroleum activities in Nigeria.
Ahmed stated that the 2024 Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Operations Regulations consolidate twelve previously gazetted or published regulations into a single document. This consolidation simplifies the process of navigating and implementing the regulations, reduces regulatory inconsistencies, and aligns with the PIA’s objectives.
He also highlighted that the proposed regulations support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to enhancing the ease of doing business in Nigeria. “These Regulations are to be read in conjunction with other Regulations made by the Authority, including the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Fees Regulations, which provide for the prescribed fees for midstream and downstream petroleum activities,” he added.
