The Senate Committee on the Petroleum Sector has pledged to resolve the lingering jurisdictional dispute between the Nigeria Mainstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority (OGFZA).
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Downstream Petroleum Sector, Senator Abdulrahman Sumaila, made the commitment during a five-day retreat in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, saying the committee would develop practical recommendations to promote regulatory harmony, investor confidence, energy security and economic growth.
Sumaila said the retreat was convened to facilitate dialogue among stakeholders, address overlaps in statutory mandates, and determine whether legislative amendments or policy clarifications are needed to eliminate ambiguities.
He assured stakeholders that all presentations and legal submissions would be carefully reviewed, with the committee expected to propose immediate and long-term solutions, including legislative or constitutional reforms where necessary.
“Our ultimate goal is to establish a regulatory environment characterised by cooperation, accountability, efficiency and legal certainty,” he said.
Managing Director of OGFZA, Bamanga Jada, urged petroleum sector regulators to avoid jurisdictional conflicts and instead foster a business-friendly environment that supports regulatory collaboration and investor confidence.
Jada argued that free zone investors, including Dangote Industries Free Zone, should benefit from the one-stop-shop regulatory model practised in successful free zones worldwide, where agencies operate under a coordinated framework.
