By Sandra Michaels
The Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Rep. Ugochinyere Imo, has declared that no policy affecting the petroleum downstream sector will be formulated in secret, emphasizing that Nigerians urgently require stable fuel prices and a steady, uninterrupted supply.
Rep. Imo made this assertion during an interactive meeting with executives of petroleum marketers’ associations and domestic refiners in Abuja.
According to the lawmaker, Nigeria stands at a critical crossroads in its energy history as domestic refining capacity expands and importation dynamics shift. He stressed that depot owners and independent operators serve as a vital bridge between government policy and the fuel pump.
Speaking earlier on the association’s operational challenges, the Executive Secretary of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), Olufemi Adewole, raised concerns over current industry bottlenecks.
Mr. Adewole urged the House committee to direct the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to demonstrate greater transparency and fairness in future fuel import allocations, warning that failure to do so could severely hinder the free flow of product supply across the country.
