The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has announced that Nigeria will start exporting urea by 2028, as the country aims to position itself as a major hub for value-added oil and gas products.
The authority also revealed plans to commence large-scale fertiliser exports in the near future. NMDPRA Chief Executive, Saidu Mohammed, shared these updates while touring Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemicals Limited in Eleme Local Government Area, Rivers State, on Wednesday.
The visit is part of Mohammed’s three-day tour of selected midstream and downstream oil and gas facilities across Rivers State.
According to Mohammed, the midstream sector is critical and requires significant investment to unlock its full potential. “We need between $30bn and $50bn today if we are to put Nigeria on the right footing as a hub not only for oil and gas but also for secondary derivatives,” he said.
He emphasized that Nigeria has no reason to continue importing value-added products such as urea and fertilisers, especially given the scale of private-sector investments currently underway. “With the expansion going on at Indorama and several other facilities, including Dangote Fertiliser, I am confident that within the next 24 months, Nigeria will join the league of urea-exporting countries,” Mohammed added.
The NMDPRA boss praised Indorama for its level of investment, describing it as a model for the kind of development needed in Nigeria’s midstream sector. He also explained why Rivers State was selected for the tour, noting its strategic importance in hosting key national assets such as refineries, processing plants, and manufacturing facilities.
“Our role is to create an enabling environment for operators to thrive while attracting additional investments into the sector,” Mohammed said.
Indorama CEO, Munish Jindal, welcomed the visit, noting that it allowed the regulator to better understand operations, achievements, and challenges in the midstream sector. While appreciating the current regulatory framework, Jindal requested some exemptions for midstream manufacturers, highlighting that certain provisions no longer align with operational realities.
The NMDPRA tour in Rivers State ends on Friday, with plans for visits to facilities in other states to follow, as three days were insufficient to cover all relevant areas.
