By Oluwakemi Kindness
The House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) is pushing amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to strengthen crude oil supply to domestic refineries, protect local refining investments and tighten regulations governing petroleum product imports.
The committee’s chairman, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, disclosed this on Monday at the closing technical briefing of Downstream Week 2026 in Abuja, saying the proposed amendments would address critical gaps affecting crude feedstock availability, licensing and the competitiveness of local refineries.
Ugochinyere said the committee would advance amendments to strengthen the legal framework for crude supply to domestic refineries and ensure that local refining investments received adequate protection under the law.
He identified the non-availability of crude oil to domestic refineries as a major concern, warning that inadequate feedstock supply could undermine investments in the sector.
“A refinery without reliable crude is an investment at risk,” he said.
The committee also plans to strengthen provisions relating to the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation, insisting that the requirement must be enforced rather than merely stated in policy documents.
Ugochinyere said the committee would pursue legal measures to guarantee crude supply to local refiners, promote fair market access and provide a stable policy environment for domestic refining operations.
On petroleum product imports, the committee said it would support a regulated market with clear rules defining who could import products and under what conditions.
Ugochinyere maintained that imports should serve as a means of addressing verified supply shortfalls rather than a permanent alternative to domestic production.
The proposed amendments are also expected to address licensing arrangements and establish stronger safeguards for local refineries against market conditions that could undermine their operations.
The committee’s position reflects its broader push to balance immediate national fuel supply needs with the development of a sustainable domestic refining industry.
“We must ensure security of supply today and a strong domestic refining industry for tomorrow,” the chairman said.
Ugochinyere also disclosed that the committee had rejected a World Bank recommendation on import licences, maintaining that Nigeria’s energy policies should reflect the country’s domestic priorities and industrial objectives.
“Nigeria’s energy policy must be written in Nigeria,” he said.
The committee’s proposed legislative measures form part of its broader efforts to strengthen energy security, improve crude availability for local refineries and reduce the risk of imports undermining domestic production.
However, the committee did not provide details of the specific clauses it intends to amend or a timeline for advancing the proposed changes.
