Nigeria to begin exporting urea in 2028 — NMDPRA

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has said Nigeria will begin exporting urea in 2028 as the country positions itself as a major hub for value-added oil and gas products.

The authority also disclosed that Nigeria would soon commence large-scale fertiliser exports.

The Chief Executive of NMDPRA, Saidu Mohammed, made this known while fielding questions from journalists during a tour of facilities at Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemicals Limited in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State on Wednesday.

The visit was part of his three-day tour of selected midstream and downstream oil and gas facilities in Rivers State.

According to Mohammed, Nigeria is striving to become a major hub for value-added products in the oil and gas industry, noting that the midstream sector is critical and requires significant investment to unlock its full potential.

He said the country had no reason to continue importing value-added products such as urea and fertilisers, particularly given the scale of private-sector investments currently being made in the sector.

“The midstream segment of the oil and gas business is a tremendous one that requires massive investment. We need between $30bn and $50bn today if we are to put Nigeria on the right footing as a hub not only for oil and gas but also for secondary derivatives,” he said.

“Value-added products like fertilisers and urea are things Nigeria has no business importing. With the expansion going on at Indorama and several other facilities, including Dangote Fertiliser, I am confident that within the next 24 months, Nigeria will join the league of urea-exporting countries, which is where we should be.

“And this is not just about being an energy hub, but also a hub for secondary derivatives of oil and gas,” Mohammed added.

The NMDPRA boss commended Indorama for its level of investment, describing it as a clear demonstration of the kind of development Nigeria needs in the midstream sector.

“It is a manifestation of what Nigeria needs. We require more midstream investments — fertiliser plants and other value-addition initiatives on our hydrocarbon resources — to propel the nation forward,” he said.