The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has refuted claims that it issued a directive to halt gas supply to power generating companies (GenCos).
In a statement released on Wednesday, the authority also denied instructing wholesale gas suppliers to cease supplying gas to companies over outstanding payment obligations.
The NMDPRA dismissed reports suggesting it had ordered the stoppage of gas supply to GenCos due to a debt of N2 trillion as “false and completely baseless.”
“It bears no connection whatsoever to the information shared during a recent stakeholders’ engagement held in Lagos between the Authority, the OPTS, IPPG, and other stakeholders in the oil and gas sector,” the NMDPRA clarified.
“The purpose of the engagement was to raise awareness among stakeholders about the requirements, opportunities, and benefits of implementing the wholesale supply licence as outlined in sections 142 and 197 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.”
The statement further noted that the Lagos meeting was a follow-up to an earlier stakeholder engagement conducted at the NMDPRA headquarters in Abuja on 27 November 2024.
“The Authority wishes to reassure all stakeholders and the general public that no such false statement was made at the event or anywhere else. We advise everyone to disregard the publication. Every effort is being made to ensure the seamless and uninterrupted supply and distribution of natural gas and petroleum products to end-users, particularly as we approach the festive season and throughout the year 2025.”