The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) have inaugurated a 10-member Joint Technical Working Committee to strengthen consumer protection and fair competition in the energy sector.
Unveiling the committee in Abuja, Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure at NMDPRA, Ogbugo Ukoha, said it was set up to address recurring complaints about service delivery and anti-competitive practices in oil and gas.
The committee, co-chaired by FCCPC's Deputy Director of Surveillance and Investigation, Mrs. Omagu Nwachukwu, and NMDPRA's Head of Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre, Mr. Charles Nwachukwu, will share market data, monitor industry practices, investigate complaints, and escalate major threats to top management.
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Both agencies said the collaboration would create a level playing field, prevent monopoly, and ensure prosecution where abuse is established, while giving consumers and smaller businesses better protection in a sector often dominated by big players.
Industry observers believe this development could boost transparency, fair pricing, and confidence among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the downstream oil and gas space.
