By Ambrose Nnaji

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has called for a phased and pragmatic approach to fuel specification harmonisation across Africa, warning that rigid, uniform timelines could undermine market stability.

Speaking at the African Refiners and Distributors Association Week 2026 in Cape Town, the Authority’s Chief Executive, Saidu Mohammed, said that while harmonisation remains a critical continental objective, structural differences among African markets make a “one-size-fits-all” model unrealistic.

Addressing a panel session on policy pathways for harmonisation, Mohammed stressed the need for a flexible framework that allows countries to align fuel standards at a pace suited to their regulatory capacity, infrastructure readiness, and refining capabilities.

He noted that a step-by-step transition would help avoid supply disruptions and limit additional cost burdens on consumers, particularly in price-sensitive economies.

“Harmonisation must be pragmatic and context-driven. We must align ambition with execution realities,” he said.

Highlighting Nigeria’s approach, Mohammed said the NMDPRA is advancing tighter fuel quality standards while maintaining supply security and market efficiency. He added that regulation in emerging markets must carefully balance environmental goals with affordability and energy access.

He identified critical success factors for harmonisation to include stronger collaboration among regulators, clear and consistent policy frameworks, sustained investment in refining and distribution infrastructure, and realistic implementation timelines.

According to him, better alignment of fuel specifications across the continent would reduce market distortions, curb cross-border arbitrage, and boost intra-African petroleum trade, while supporting a gradual transition to cleaner fuels.

Mohammed also pointed to increasing refining capacity in Africa—particularly in Nigeria—as a key enabler for reducing dependence on imports and accelerating standardisation efforts.

The African Refiners and Distributors Association Week 2026, which marks two decades of regional downstream coordination, brought together regulators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to explore strategies for building a more integrated and resilient energy market.

L–R:
Farid Ghezali, Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers Organization; Marie-Josephine Sidibé, President of the African Refiners and Distributors Association; and Saidu Mohammed, Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, during proceedings at ARDA Week 2026, in Cape Town, South Africa.

By Editor

Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board has initiated a strategic overhaul of the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum (NCCF), signaling a renewed push to deliver measurable, high-impact outcomes in Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain.

The reset, unveiled during a two-day retreat and the first half of the NCCF 2026 Steering Committee Meeting, is aimed at repositioning the forum as a more effective engine for in-country capacity development, policy alignment, and stakeholder collaboration.

Declaring the retreat open, the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, described the gathering as a “defining moment” in the evolution of the NCCF.

He noted that while the forum has recorded steady growth since inception, the next phase requires a more deliberate, structured, and results-driven approach.

“The NCCF began as a vision—modest in structure but bold in intent. Today, it has grown, strengthened by collaboration and sustained by our shared commitment to advancing Nigerian content,” he said.

Represented by the Acting Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Ogbe stressed the urgency of transitioning from incremental progress to long-term, high-impact delivery.

“This retreat is not just another meeting; it is a defining moment to interrogate our current realities and chart a clearer, more strategic path forward,” he added.

A key pillar of the reform process is a baseline study conducted by Ernst & Young (EY), which benchmarked the NCCF against global best practices, identified structural gaps, and outlined pathways for improved performance and relevance.

However, Ogbe emphasized that frameworks alone would not drive transformation.

“The success of any roadmap will depend on the quality of engagement, sincerity of contributions, and willingness to think beyond silos,” he said, urging stakeholders to adopt a more deliberate and solution-oriented approach.

Providing further insight, EY Partner and session facilitator Damilola Aloba outlined three strategic priorities guiding the reset: strengthening aligned leadership across the NCCF ecosystem, improving coordination between the forum, its Sectoral Working Groups (SWGs), and NCDMB, and fostering shared ownership of its long-term vision.

He noted that stakeholder consultations revealed several operational bottlenecks, including unclear strategic direction, delays in project approvals, weak evaluation and tracking mechanisms, and limited clarity around post-idea execution processes.

Other constraints identified include budget limitations due to heavy reliance on NCDMB as the primary funding source, as well as the absence of defined criteria for assessing project viability and impact.

Despite these challenges, Aloba acknowledged the strong commitment demonstrated by SWG members, particularly in advancing capacity development initiatives across the oil and gas sector.

Earlier, the Acting Deputy Manager of NCCF, Bright Amatoru, provided an overview of the forum’s mandate and activities.

He described the NCCF as a statutory collaborative platform established under Sections 57 and 58 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, designed to identify industry gaps, develop solutions, and drive targeted interventions.

Since its establishment in 2014, the forum has engaged stakeholders across 12 SWGs, delivering initiatives such as National Operational Standards to harmonise capacity development efforts, and the Marine Assets Listing System, which provides a comprehensive database of marine assets within the industry.

Amatoru also highlighted benchmarking studies in fabrication, as well as inclusion-focused initiatives like the Women in Oil and Gas Conference and mentorship programmes led in collaboration with the Diversity SWG.

However, he acknowledged that the absence of a clearly defined strategic framework has constrained the forum’s ability to prioritise and scale interventions effectively.

“As of today, we have not had a very clear direction on how to select interventions. That clarity is critical as we align industry expectations with global best practices,” he said.

The ongoing reset forms part of broader efforts by Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board to develop a comprehensive NCCF roadmap aligned with its 10-year strategic plan and evolving industry needs.

Participants at the retreat are expected to generate actionable recommendations, refine governance structures, and define a clear execution pathway to enhance NCCF’s impact across Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

By Editor

The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Port Harcourt Section 103, is set to host the Well Intervention Summit (WIS) 2026 from March to April at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre, as Nigeria’s oil and gas industry intensifies efforts to optimise production from existing assets.

Speaking ahead of the summit, the Section Chairman, Pringle Egbe, stressed the growing importance of well intervention in sustaining output.

“At a time when Nigeria must do more with existing assets, well intervention is no longer optional; it is central to sustaining production, improving efficiency, and securing the future of our energy sector,” he said, noting that the summit is designed to deliver practical solutions and foster industry-wide collaboration.

With the theme, “Challenges, Collaboration and Conformance: Innovating the Future of Well Intervention for Nigeria’s Production Goals,” the summit will focus on operational excellence, cost optimisation, regulatory alignment, and performance-driven outcomes across the upstream value chain.

The event comes at a critical juncture for both Nigeria and the global energy industry, where operators are increasingly prioritising optimisation of existing assets over new drilling. Amid tighter capital budgets, rising costs, and energy transition pressures, the emphasis has shifted to efficiency, enhanced oil recovery, and extending the lifespan of mature fields.

In Nigeria, this urgency is amplified by the country’s reliance on ageing wells, many of which face declining productivity, integrity issues, deferred maintenance, and high intervention costs—challenges that continue to constrain national output.

According to the SPE Port Harcourt Section, WIS 2026 will showcase advanced well intervention technologies, digital solutions, and integrated asset management strategies aimed at unlocking stranded production and improving well performance. The summit is also expected to deepen collaboration among operators, service companies, and regulators in alignment with national production targets.

The event will feature a lineup of industry leaders and technical experts, including Vice President, Well Engineering at Heirs Energies, Edirihin Eta, Ebenezer Ageh of Aradel Holdings; Abdulrahman Mijinyawa of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited; Akintunde of Geoplex Drillteq Limited; and Victor U. Georgeson of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), among others.

These speakers will lead keynote sessions and panel discussions, sharing insights on emerging technologies, global best practices, and innovative approaches to well intervention.

Beyond technical sessions, the summit will provide networking, exhibitions, and partnership opportunities aimed at driving investment and strengthening industry collaboration.

As Nigeria seeks to stabilise and grow oil production, WIS 2026 highlights well intervention as a critical lever for resilience, efficiency, and long-term sustainability in the sector