The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority says ongoing expansions at Indorama, Dangote Fertilizer and other plants are expected to position Nigeria as a net exporter of urea and fertiliser by 2028.

The Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA, Saidu Mohammed, disclosed this during an operational tour of Indorama Eleme Petrochemical Limited on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, in Eleme, Rivers State.

According to him, the visit was aimed at assessing the operational status, infrastructure availability and performance of critical assets across the midstream and downstream petroleum sector.

Mohammed said ongoing investments and expansions of critical assets would position Nigeria among urea-exporting nations and establish the country as a fertiliser production hub.

He added that Nigeria is on the right track to transforming its petroleum and manufacturing sectors in support of sustainable economic growth.

“Value-added products such as fertilisers and urea plants are what this nation needs,” he said.

Mohammed stated that Nigeria has no justification for importing fertiliser and urea, given its abundant natural resource endowment..

“We are optimistic that ongoing expansions at Indorama and Dangote Fertiliser plants, among others, will enable Nigeria to join the league of urea-exporting countries within the next 24 months,” he added.

The NMDPRA boss said Nigeria is targeting to become a major hub for value-added petroleum products, stressing that while the midstream sector is critical, it requires substantial investment.

Mohammed noted that the country needs between $30 billion and $50 billion in additional funding to strengthen the midstream oil and gas sector.

He added that Nigeria must look beyond energy supply and position itself as a hub for oil and gas derivatives, highlighting significant opportunities across the midstream and downstream segments.

“Fertiliser plants and other value additions to our hydrocarbon resources are essential for national growth,” he said.

He explained that the three-day operational tour of selected midstream and downstream facilities in Rivers State was designed to engage industry players across the oil and gas value chain.

“NMDPRA is ready to provide the necessary support and create an enabling environment to encourage further investments,” Mohammed noted.

He said the authority’s delegation would also visit gas processing plants, manufacturing facilities and refineries to gain a comprehensive overview of industry operations.

In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Indorama, Munish Jindal, urged the regulator to review policies that no longer reflect the realities of the manufacturing sector.

In November 2025, it was reported that Dangote Fertilizer Limited entered into a strategic agreement with thyssenkrupp Uhde Fertilizer Technology, a subsidiary of thyssenkrupp Uhde, to license its advanced UFT Fluid Bed Granulation Technology for four new urea granulation units in Nigeria.

The agreement covers the technology licence, a comprehensive Process Design Package (PDP), and the supply of proprietary equipment, including granulators and scrubbers.

According to the report, each of the four new units will have a nameplate capacity of 4,235 metric tonnes per day, bringing the combined daily capacity to 16,940 metric tonnes.