Speakers Harp On Fair And Healthy Competition In Nigeria’s Oil And Gas Sector At MEMAN’S Webinar Session.

The Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) has hosted its Quarterly Press Webinar and
Engagement for the second quarter of 2025, to discuss Fair and Healthy Compettion in the Nigerian
market.

The engagement held on Thursday brought together key members of the press and industry experts, industry
players, regional associations to examine the role of competition in shaping market dynamics and
protecting consumers, especially amid growing private investments and infrastructure shifts in the oil and gas
industry space .

Samer Matta, Senior Economist, World Bank
Francis Anatogu, CEO,Transaharan/Inaugural Executive Secretary of the AfCFTA, moderator Ogechi Nkwoji, Head Economic Intelligence, Research,and Regulation, MEMAN led
Key Discussion Points which include
Safety Briefing by MEMAN Operations Manager with
the session opening with a safety briefing delivered by Engr.Moses Okoh, MEMAN Operations
Manager who provided essential guidance on remaining alert during the virtual engagement
offerring instructions on how to respond in the event of a petroleum product rollover incident.The
emphasis on safety reinforced MEMAN’s ongoing commitment to a strong safety culture in all
operational and public-facing activities.

This was thereafter followed by a opening
Remarks by MEMAN Chairman Huub Stokman, Chairman of MEMAN, where he emphasized that while deregulation opens new opportunities, maintaining fair and open
competition is critical. Stockman called on regulatory agencies such as the FCCPC and NMDPRA to ensure
consistent oversight, promote innovation, and protect consumers in this era of new market reality.

Samer Matta, Senior Economist at the World Bank in his remarks during the webinar session outlined how competition benefits both
households and firms through improved pricing, service delivery, and innovation. He noted that many
Nigerian sectors remain highly concentrated, urging regulators to strengthen enforcement
frameworks and build internal capacity for competitive assessments.

On regulatory Oversight and Market Concentration Risks
Francis Anatogu,CEO of Transaharan,drew lessons from the telecoms, banking, and aviation sectors,
emphasizing how competition drives innovation and consumer choice. He stressed the importance of
clear dominance thresholds, transparent market access, and SME protection.He also urged regulatory
agencies to improve coordination and provide accessible complaint channels with timely resolution
mechanisms.

The session also examined the implications of large-scale infrastructure such as the Dangote Refinery.
Acknowledging that such investments promise supply chain efficiency, participants however cautioned against unchecked
dominance with MEMAN Secretariat also committing to conduct a thorough internal review of Dangote’s
logistics initiative to assess its effect on downstream competition. Stakeholders further stressed the need for regulators like the FCCPC to continue monitoring developments and ensure a level playing field.

MEMAN CEO clement Isong in his presentation discussed the increasing adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
trucks for fuel distribution, citing potential cost reductions of up to 40%.While recognizing the
innovation, Isong warned that uneven infrastructure availability could give certain players an outsized
advantage.He urged regulators to ensure broad-based access to CNG infrastructure and encouraged
MEMAN members to adopt additional efficiency models, such as solar-powered stations and logistics
pooling, to drive down costs without compromising competitive fairness.

Speakers also agreed that well-defined roles for stakeholders-government, private sector, and
regulators-must be complemented by effective enforcement and transparency to ensure stability the entire value chain .

Messrs Francis and
Samer highlighted that competition, if well regulated, naturally protects consumers and drives job
creation.However, strong governance according to speakers is needed to prevent market failures, particularly in a
transitioning and deregulated environment.

The webinar concluded with a collective commitment to fostering a dynamic, transparent, and
inclusive downstream market.As deregulation takes firm root in Nigeria’s energy landscape,
stakeholders underscored the need for sustained collaboration, policy clarity, and innovation to
ensure that the benefits of competition reach consumers, businesses, and the broader economy.