The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has praised President Bola Tinubu for restructuring the leadership of Nigeria’s petroleum regulatory bodies, calling the move crucial for stronger oversight in the oil and gas sector.

IPMAN National President, Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi Shettima, said the leadership changes have helped restore confidence and clarity in the industry. He made the remarks Thursday while highlighting the growing collaboration between IPMAN and Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

The endorsement follows the resignations of Farouk Ahmed, CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and Gbenga Komolafe, head of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). The exits came amid tensions over fuel importation, pricing, and regulatory oversight, sparked by a petition from Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group.

Shettima said the partnership between IPMAN and Dangote Refinery focuses on improving access to affordable fuel while boosting domestic refining. He stressed that Nigeria must deepen local refining instead of relying on fuel imports.

“Continuous fuel importation harms the economy, destroys jobs, and discourages investors. Strengthening domestic refining will lower costs, stabilize pump prices, support the naira, and create thousands of jobs across the downstream sector,” he said.

He added that clear and consistent regulations are essential to maintain investor confidence and sustain growth in the petroleum industry.

IPMAN reaffirmed its commitment to supporting local refineries and ensuring nationwide fuel distribution, emphasizing that domestic refining is key to energy security, job creation, and economic stability in Nigeria.