Retail outlet operators in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector have raised strong objections to a new regulatory proposal by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), which seeks to enforce formal decommissioning procedures for fuel stations.
The proposed rule is part of the 2025 Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Safety and Environmental Regulations, currently under public review at a stakeholder consultation forum in Abuja. A key clause in the draft regulation mandates safe abandonment and decommissioning processes for retail fuel outlets—a move that has stirred resistance among stakeholders.
At the forum, operators in the downstream segment called on the authority to limit the scope of the regulation strictly to midstream operations, arguing that extending it to filling stations was unnecessary and burdensome.
However, the NMDPRA defended its position, citing the need to mitigate environmental hazards posed by poorly managed or abandoned petrol stations. The agency maintained that the regulation is part of broader efforts to unify safety and environmental compliance standards across both midstream and downstream sectors.
Speaking at the event, the Secretary and Legal Adviser to the NMDPRA, Joseph Tolurushe, acknowledged the concerns raised but emphasized the authority’s responsibility to safeguard public and environmental health.
The consultative meeting, held at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, marks a critical step in finalizing the safety framework, which will shape the operational and environmental standards of Nigeria’s petroleum distribution network in the years ahead.
