The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) met with oil and gas stakeholders and marketers in Abuja on Monday to review the draft **Prevention of Anti-Competitive Practices and Behaviour Regulations 2026**. The engagement followed the submission of about 20 written comments from companies and other parties after the proposed rules were released.
At the meeting, NMDPRA Chief Executive Rabiu Umar said the framework is designed to curb abuse of dominance and guarantee fair, non-discriminatory access to petroleum infrastructure. He added that the final draft would support transparency, market efficiency, investment and innovation in the sector. Umar asked stakeholders to submit additional reviews and recommendations, and to flag provisions that require clarification, refinement or practical alternatives.
Umar also noted that the Authority recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to strengthen regulatory coordination and fair market practices in the petroleum industry. He described the mandates of the two institutions as complementary.
The Authority Secretary and Board Legal Adviser, Dr Joseph Tolorunse, said the proposed regulations translate the competition provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act into detailed and enforceable rules. According to him, the framework will cover pipeline transportation, storage and terminals, wholesale petroleum and gas activities, retail fuel distribution, petrochemicals and related commercial activities. He said the rules would also address cases where a dominant operator controls essential infrastructure such as pipelines, terminals, storage facilities, supply channels or market information, and would give the Authority a stronger basis to intervene on market power, infrastructure access, capacity allocation and discriminatory practices. Tolorunse cautioned against creating jurisdictional conflicts or duplication between the NMDPRA and the FCCPC.
The consultation comes weeks after coordinated fuel pricing allegations resurfaced. In July, oil marketers accused major importers, including AA Rano, of fixing imported petrol at about N1,350 per litre, well above the price reportedly offered by Dangote Petroleum Refinery. Beyond pricing coordination, the draft targets exclusive supply arrangements and restrictive long-term contracts that could block independent marketers and smaller operators from accessing fuel or infrastructure. Under Part V on Anti-Competitive Supply and Trading Practices, the Authority proposes limits on exclusive supply agreements, excessively long-term contracts and take-or-pay obligations, alongside closer scrutiny of tying and bundling arrangements that condition fuel supply or infrastructure access on the purchase of unrelated products or services.
