The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has called for up to $50 billion in private sector investment to expand Nigeria’s midstream oil and gas infrastructure and strengthen energy supply across the country.
The Authority’s Chief Executive, Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, made the call during a three-day inspection tour of oil and gas facilities in Rivers State, where he said government funding alone can no longer drive growth in the sector.
Mohammed explained that the midstream segment which covers gas processing, transportation, storage, and refining requires significant private capital to meet rising domestic demand and position Nigeria as a major energy supplier to global markets.
He said recent policy reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies, have created a more competitive and investor-friendly environment, encouraging private players to commit funds and expand capacity.
According to him, the regulator’s responsibility is to provide clear rules, transparency, and stability that will attract long-term investments.
During the tour, the NMDPRA delegation visited facilities operated by Aradel Holdings Plc, a wholly Nigerian-owned energy company.
Mohammed praised the company’s integrated operations, noting that it has supplied gas to Nigeria LNG for over a decade and operates a refinery with a processing capacity of about 11,000 barrels per day.
He described Aradel as an example of what indigenous companies can achieve with the right regulatory support and urged more investors to develop refineries, gas processing plants, and related infrastructure.
Mohammed added that expanding midstream capacity would help increase fuel and gas supply, improve energy security, and reduce pressure on prices, especially in the post-subsidy era. He also highlighted opportunities in gas-based products such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and other derivatives.
Representatives of Aradel welcomed the regulator’s visit, saying it reaffirmed the company’s commitment to further investments and collaboration with government agencies to strengthen Nigeria’s energy value chain.
