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By Janet Okoronkwo
A group of lawyers, under the aegis of the League of Patriotic Lawyers, has called on the Federal Government to review certain policies of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, in the interest of easing hardship faced by Nigerians.
The group, led by its chairman and former president of the Nigerian Universities Students Union, Abubakar Yesufu, made the call while addressing journalists at a press conference.
Yesufu said the group was concerned about what it described as regulatory practices in the downstream petroleum sector, which according to him, have continued to affect fuel pricing and availability.
He commended the management of Dangote Refinery for the recent reduction in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N740 per litre, describing the move as a positive step towards easing the burden on Nigerians.
According to him, the development has reignited public discourse on the role of regulation in determining fuel costs and the need for policies that encourage local refining and competition.
He said the lawyers’ group would continue to engage relevant authorities and mobilise public opinion to advocate reforms within the petroleum regulatory framework to ensure fairness, transparency and affordability.
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Also speaking, Sule Oyofo, who represents a coalition of 32 civil society organisations, said the groups were committed to promoting accountability and policy reforms in the energy sector through lawful and democratic means.
The speakers raised concerns over reports of multiple fuel import licences issued by the NMDPRA and called on the agency to provide clarification on the licensing process in order to promote transparency and public confidence.
They urged the authority to consider making available information on beneficiaries of import licences, stressing that such disclosure would help dispel public speculation and strengthen trust in the regulatory system.
The group also appealed to relevant oversight and anti-corruption agencies to carry out routine reviews, in line with their statutory mandates, to ensure that regulatory processes in the petroleum sector adhere to due process.
They further called on President Bola Tinubu to continue efforts aimed at strengthening institutions in the oil and gas sector, noting that effective regulation remains critical to achieving energy security, attracting investment and protecting consumers.
They urged the NMDPRA to make public the beneficiaries of the import licences within three days, indicating that they would approach the court if the request was not complied with.
