The Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) has called on the Federal Government to accelerate reforms in the downstream petroleum sector to improve efficiency and attract fresh investment.
Speaking in Lagos on Thursday, MEMAN’s Executive Secretary, Mr Clement Isong, said timely policy and structural adjustments would enhance competition, improve fuel supply stability and create a more sustainable operating environment for industry players.
He noted that strict alignment of sector policies with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) would promote transparency and help build an efficient, investor-friendly downstream market.
Isong explained that MEMAN was advocating reforms that ensure fairness for all operators, boost efficiency across the value chain and institutionalise global best practices in health, safety and environmental standards.
According to him, restoring investor confidence would require clear reform timelines and predictable regulatory oversight to strengthen the resilience of Nigeria’s energy distribution system.
He emphasised that outcomes driven by the PIA were essential for attracting long-term investment and protecting consumers, adding that certainty, openness and effective coordination were critical to a functional downstream market.
Isong disclosed that MEMAN’s focus for the year includes improved stakeholder collaboration, careful management of ongoing sector transitions and the full implementation of the PIA.
He added that priority actions involve clarifying leadership and coordination responsibilities, sequencing reforms to reduce disruptions and ensuring fuel affordability for consumers during the transition period.
The MEMAN executive secretary stressed that effective PIA implementation must result in a predictable market framework that supports sustainable investment while safeguarding consumer interests.
Reflecting on developments in 2025, he identified the simultaneous transitions across the downstream value chain as the sector’s most significant challenge.
He explained that regulators, government agencies, operators and consumers were adjusting at the same time, leading to uncertainty and uneven reform outcomes.
Isong said MEMAN members responded by strengthening stakeholder engagement, making targeted operational changes and consistently advocating for coordinated and predictable reform processes.
He expressed confidence that sustained cooperation and policy clarity would enable Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector to emerge more efficient, resilient and better positioned to meet the nation’s long-term energy demands.