Speaker Abbas Commends Tinubu for Reviving Nigeria’s Downstream Oil Sector

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for revitalizing Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, particularly the downstream sector.

Speaking on Monday at the opening of the First Annual Downstream Petroleum Week in Abuja, Abbas said the sector is experiencing a historic revival under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu’s government.

Represented by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, Abbas described the event themed “Celebrating Our Successes, Confronting Our Challenges and Finding Solutions for the Petroleum Downstream Sector” as timely, noting that it underscores the sector’s progress and potential.

He highlighted the Dangote Refinery’s operational take-off as a major milestone toward achieving energy self-sufficiency, while emphasizing the need for the National Assembly to continue creating an enabling environment for private refineries and industrial growth.

“This conference is a reminder that Nigeria is full of success stories. The challenges are not insurmountable. With collaboration and innovation, sustainable solutions will emerge,” Abbas said.

The Speaker urged stakeholders to develop creative strategies that will strengthen the downstream sector, boost the economy, and improve citizens’ welfare.

“Agenda-setting programmes like this not only foster inclusiveness and development but also reinforce citizens’ trust in the National Assembly and government institutions,” he added.

Abbas also commended the Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, and members of the committee for organizing the national conference in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

He further noted that the *Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021* remains a landmark reform that transformed the NNPC into a commercial entity, strengthened governance, and improved transparency and investor confidence in the petroleum sector.

In his remarks, kenga Ugochinyere called on labour unions and stakeholders in the oil industry to adopt dialogue over confrontation in addressing refinery-related disputes.

He assured that the parliament would continue to facilitate peace, fairness, and stability in the sector, adding that the Downstream Petroleum Week will become an annual platform for national dialogue, policy evaluation, and industry growth.