OTL West Africa 2025: Policy, Market Dynamics & Energy Security Discussions to Drive Growth

L–R: CEO, OTL West Africa, Joyce Akabogu; Chairman, OTL Advisory Board, Otunba Adetunji Oyebanji; and Chairman, Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria, Ugo Amadi, during the OTL West Africa 2025 pre-event media briefing in Lagos on October 24, 2025.

 

The downstream oil and gas landscape in Nigeria has undergone seismic shifts in the past year, defined by deregulation, market turbulence, and structural realignments.

“The past year has been one of action, tension and intervention across the downstream value chain” says Otunba Adetunji Oyebanji, Chairman of the OTL Advisory Board.

Oyebanji spoke earlier today at the pre-event media parley leading up to the hosting of the 2025 OTL Africa Downstream Energy Week. Scheduled for October 26–31 in Lagos, themed “Energy Sustainability: Growth Beyond Boundaries and Competition,” this year’s edition focuses on navigating the complex realities of deregulation, competition, and regulatory evolution shaping Nigeria’s downstream petroleum and gas markets..

In his address at the parley, Oyebanji, incidentally the Chief Executive of 11Plc, formerly Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc, affirmed that while deregulation has disrupted long-standing norms, it also presents the opportunity for sustainable market correction and private-sector innovation.

Oyebanji emphasized that energy security is not merely about fuel availability, but about building a balanced system where “local production meets national demand competitively without distorting forex stability.” He pointed to Nigeria’s refining expansion, notably the 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote Refinery, as a turning point for domestic capacity, while also cautioning that “increasing local supply must not undermine foreign exchange inflow or production incentives.”

He further outlined the economic interplay between crude allocation, foreign currency, and investment viability, noting that sustainable progress depends on incentivizing both indigenous and international producers to expand output. “We must make Nigeria attractive to investors — both local and foreign. Energy security cannot exist without production growth,” he said.

Decarbonization and transition themes are set to dominate the Agenda. Highlighting the global push for accelerating electric mobility and carbon capture, Oyebanji advocates a measured transition for Africa, whereby environmental goals are aligned with national realities. “We must use what we have — crude and gas — to get to where we want to go,” he stated, spotlighting the ongoing deployment of solar solutions at gas service stations in Nigeria as a model of sustainable adaptation.

Beyond policy and market structure, OTL West Africa 2025 is expected to serve as a barometer for investor confidence, providing insights into merger trends, market consolidation, and the evolving balance between refineries, depots, and retail operators.

Oyebanji observed that ongoing commercial negotiations and volume shifts are already reshaping business models, predicting visible mergers and acquisitions “within two to five years” as market realities crystallize.

According to Mrs Joyce Akabogu, Chief Executive of OTL  Africa, the sessions at this year’s OTL Downstream Energy Week have been carefully curated to ensure clarity, collaboration, and investments.

Key highlights of the conference are:

• Dedicated session on energy security and sustainability, assessing how local refining, data transparency, and renewable integration can stabilize Nigeria’s fuel supply.
• Ministerial and regulator panels from five West African nations, advancing regional energy integration.
• Ten strategic sessions featuring 60+ experts dissecting policy reforms, financing trends, and market adaptation.

As Nigeria and West Africa navigate their most transformative energy decade yet, OTL 2025 is expected to generate not just conversation, but actionable frameworks driving competition, transparency, and investment-led energy security.