TotalEnergies Warns Nigeria’s Fuel Deregulation Will Fail Without ‘Strict Discipline’ and Consistent Rules

TotalEnergies, the last standing multinational in Nigeria’s downstream oil sector, has sent a powerful message to the federal government: removing subsidies is only half the battle. On Thursday, the energy giant warned that the country’s newly deregulated fuel market is at risk of total collapse unless it is anchored by “firm regulatory discipline” and unwavering safety standards.

Speaking at the 2026 Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) in Abuja, the company’s General Manager of Retail and Cards, Abdullahi Umar, pointed out a sobering reality. While the private sector is now driving growth, the lack of a “predictable” environment is what forced other international oil companies to pack their bags and leave Nigeria’s filling stations years ago.

“Capital alone does not build a sustainable downstream market,” the company stated in a hard-hitting address. “No serious investor wants to operate in an environment where policies are inconsistent and safety standards are weak. Deregulation without discipline simply replaces old inefficiencies with new instabilities.”

TotalEnergies, which is celebrating 70 years of operation in Nigeria, argued that for the “post-subsidy” era to actually benefit the average citizen, the government must ensure a level playing field. This means moving away from “accidental” rules and ensuring that every player from local independent marketers to massive refineries follows the same world-class operational guidelines.

The company also touched on the logistical nightmare of fuel distribution, urging the government to revive the nation’s aging pipeline network. By linking refineries, like the game-changing Dangote facility, directly to inland depots, Nigeria could slash the “middleman” costs that currently keep pump prices high.

As Nigeria enters its second year of a fully liberalized market, TotalEnergies’ message is clear: the “State of Harmony” in the energy sector won’t come from high prices alone, but from a regulator that isn’t afraid to bark and bite when standards are ignored.