By Danjuma Amodu | March 14, 2026
Engr. Saidu Mohammed, Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has called for a phased, context-driven harmonisation of fuel specifications across Africa, warning that rigid, uniform targets ignore the continent’s varied regulatory capacity, infrastructure gaps and refining realities.
Speaking during the panel session “Policy Pathways to Fuel Specification Harmonisation: Regulation, Progress, and Ambition” at African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA) Week 2026 in Cape Town, Mohammed said a “one-size-fits-all” framework is impractical and risks disrupting supply chains or imposing additional cost pressures on consumers.
He advocated a step-by-step alignment model that allows countries to transition at a pace consistent with domestic realities, without compromising energy security or affordability.
“Harmonisation must be pragmatic and context-driven. We must align ambition with execution realities,” Mohammed stated.
He outlined Nigeria’s regulatory direction under the NMDPRA, citing ongoing efforts to tighten fuel quality standards while preserving supply stability and market efficiency. Effective regulation, he emphasised, must balance environmental objectives with affordability and energy access, particularly in developing markets.
Mohammed listed four key enablers for successful harmonisation: stronger inter-regulatory collaboration, policy clarity and consistency, sustained investment in refining and distribution infrastructure, and realistic transition timelines.
According to him, improved alignment of fuel specifications will help reduce market distortions, curb cross-border arbitrage, and enhance regional trade, while supporting a gradual transition to cleaner fuels across the continent.
He also pointed to growing refining capacity in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, as a critical factor in advancing harmonisation efforts and reducing reliance on imported petroleum products.
ARDA Week 2026, marking two decades of Africa’s downstream industry coordination, convened regulators, policymakers, and industry leaders to examine pathways for a more integrated and resilient energy market.
