The Nigerian Mainstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) says it cannot set or fix petrol pump prices under normal market conditions.
According to Daily Post Nigeria, the regulator said in a statement shared on its verified X account on Saturday, September 19, 2026, that the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 restricts government intervention in pricing to exceptional circumstances supported by formal evidence.
The position was also reported by The Punch, which said NMDPRA had clarified that it does not determine petrol pump prices because the law provides for free-market pricing conditions.
In practical terms, the regulator’s explanation means petrol prices may be influenced by market conditions rather than imposed at a single uniform level by NMDPRA. The clarification is relevant to motorists and households because changes in the cost of supplying petrol can be reflected at filling stations.
NMDPRA’s statement, as reported by the two outlets, does not amount to an announcement of a new petrol price. It explains the regulator’s legal position on pricing and the limits placed on direct government intervention by the Petroleum Industry Act.
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