Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, has directed petroleum marketers to immediately reflect the recent decline in global oil prices by reducing the pump prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and other petroleum products.

Mr Lokpobiri gave the directive at the 2026 Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) general counsel and legal advisers’ forum on Monday in Abuja.

He said that with the de-escalation of tensions between Iran and the United States, there was an expectation that the prices of PMS and other petroleum products would be adjusted downward.

He expressed concern that the anticipated reduction had yet to be reflected at the pumps, stressing that while market forces under the deregulated regime would ultimately restore price equilibrium, marketers should not exploit the situation to make excessive profits.

The minister said the regulator had a statutory responsibility to ensure that deregulation did not become an avenue for profiteering, adding that this must be carried out in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA 2021).

“For too long, the dominant question in our regulatory conversations has been: are operators complying? That question matters. It will always matter. But it is no longer sufficient.

“The more consequential question today is this: are our regulatory authorities doing their job? Is it clear, consistent, and predictable enough to give investors the confidence they need to commit capital not just for one cycle but for the long term?

“Compliance is the foundation. Regulatory certainty is the ceiling we must now be building toward,” he said.

Mr Lokpobiri, while urging marketers to comply with the principles of fair pricing to ensure consumers benefit from prevailing market realities, urged regulators to move beyond compliance by promoting regulatory certainty to attract long-term investment.

“The sector is now fully deregulated, a bold reform that President Bola Tinubu had the courage to implement. That decision paved the way for the operationalisation of the Dangote Refinery and other refinery projects currently underway.

“It also ensured that artificial scarcity has become a thing of the past.

“You can attest to the fact that since 2023, there has been availability of products in the country, even with the recent challenges posed by the US-Israeli /Iranian conflict.

“Beyond allowing prices to be determined by market forces, the question is: what is the regulator doing to ensure that consumers receive the correct quantity of product?

“When someone pays for 10 litres of PMS, they should receive exactly 10 litres, not less,” he warned.

Mr Lokpobiri said while compliance with regulations remained fundamental, investors were increasingly interested in jurisdictions with clear, consistent and predictable regulatory frameworks.

He described general counsel as strategic partners whose responsibilities extend beyond interpreting laws to shaping investment decisions, improving regulatory design and supporting national development.

According to him, legal advisers should provide constructive feedback whenever regulations or guidelines create uncertainty that could discourage investment.

He said Nigeria’s petroleum sector was entering a new phase characterised by expanding domestic refining capacity, increased private-sector participation, and emerging opportunities across the midstream and downstream segments.

According to him, attracting investment will require policy consistency, transparent regulation, efficient dispute resolution, and strong collaboration among government, regulators, industry operators, and legal practitioners.

He expressed confidence that the recommendations from the forum would help improve governance, regulatory certainty, and investment confidence in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.

(NAN)