Nigeria will begin exporting urea by 2028 and scale up fertiliser exports as domestic production capacity expands, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has said.
The Chief Executive of NMDPRA, Saidu Mohammed, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking to journalists during an inspection tour of Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemicals Limited in Rivers State. The visit formed part of his three-day tour of selected midstream and downstream oil and gas facilities in the state.
Mohammed said Nigeria is positioning itself to become a regional hub for value-added oil and gas products, stressing that the midstream segment plays a critical role in achieving that goal. He estimated that the sector requires between $30 billion and $50 billion in fresh investment to reach its full potential.
He argued that Nigeria should no longer import products such as urea and fertilisers, given the scale of private investments already committed to local production across the country.
Path to Urea Exports
Mohammed said expansion projects at Indorama and other facilities, including Dangote Fertiliser, will enable Nigeria to join the league of urea-exporting countries within the next 24 months.
According to him, Nigeria’s ambition extends beyond energy production to becoming a centre for secondary oil and gas derivatives, driven by domestic processing and value addition.
He praised Indorama’s long-term investment in fertiliser production, describing the facility as a clear example of the type of midstream infrastructure needed to support industrial growth and economic diversification.
Mohammed explained that regulators selected Rivers State for the inspection because of its strategic importance to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. The state hosts critical national assets, including refineries, processing plants, and manufacturing facilities. He said the tour allowed regulators to observe gas processing, manufacturing, and refining operations firsthand.
Regulator, Industry Seek Deeper Collaboration
Mohammed said NMDPRA will continue to support operators by improving the investment environment and attracting additional capital into the midstream and downstream sectors.
Speaking separately, Munish Jindal, Chief Executive Officer of Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemicals Limited, said the visit gave regulators a clearer understanding of the company’s operations, achievements, and challenges.
Jindal noted that Indorama has operated in Nigeria for more than 20 years and said Mohammed played a role during the company’s early establishment. He added that regulatory understanding of midstream operations has improved significantly over the past 18 years.
While expressing support for the current regulatory framework, Jindal said some legacy requirements no longer align with midstream manufacturing realities. He said the company has asked the regulator to review those issues and grant exemptions where appropriate.
Mohammed said the inspection tour of Rivers State facilities will end on Friday, adding that NMDPRA plans further visits to other states. He noted that the three-day tour was not enough to cover all priority assets nationwide.