The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) announced regulatory changes revoking all rules previously enforced by the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).
The decision, contained in a statement on Tuesday, is part of the proposed Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Operations Regulations 2024, which consolidates earlier regulations to simplify the operational landscape.
Secretary and Legal Adviser, Dr. Joseph Tolorunse, stated, “Any regulations administered by the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources are hereby revoked.”
This move includes the cancellation of the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulations 2023, and integrates all relevant regulations into a single document.
The NMDPRA’s Chief Executive, Engr. Farouk Ahmed, indicated that the Ministry of Justice will review the draft before it is published. “After today’s job is done, we will sit down with the Federal Ministry of Justice to cross the ‘Ts’ and dot the ‘Is’,” he said, highlighting the thoroughness of the process.
Ahmed also noted that the new regulations, aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for improved business practices, aim to facilitate compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021. “These regulations will enhance the ease of doing business in Nigeria,” he stated, stressing their importance in streamlining midstream and downstream operations.
The NMDPRA is preparing to publish the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Fees Regulations soon, as part of these sweeping reforms.
