The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, has called on the newly appointed Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, to prioritize stopping the recurring tanker explosions that have affected communities across Nigeria.

During a familiarization visit to Mohammed’s office, Lokpobiri highlighted that the deregulation of the downstream oil sector under President Bola Tinubu aims to strengthen the industry, promote business growth, and expand the country’s oil prosperity. He emphasized that regulatory bodies should be measured by how effectively they enable businesses, rather than by the volume of regulations they enforce.

Lokpobiri also reassured that the ministry remains committed to working with NMDPRA to ensure a steady supply of petrol nationwide. He noted that under the current administration, all licence applications receive attention within 24 hours.

The minister commended Mohammed on his appointment and encouraged him to address key challenges swiftly, starting with reducing tanker-related accidents, a problem he noted has seen some improvement in recent times.