OTL Africa Downstream Energy Week will mark its 20th anniversary in Lagos from October 25 to 30, 2026, with energy security, competition and the rising cost of petroleum products expected to feature prominently as Nigeria grapples with mounting pressure on households and businesses.

The anniversary edition, themed “Secure Energy, Shared Prosperity,” will bring together policymakers, regulators, investors and operators to examine how Africa can translate its energy resources and expanding refining capacity into reliable supplies, competitive markets and affordable energy for consumers.

Speaking ahead of the event, Chairman of OTL Africa’s advisory board, Otunba Adetunji Oyebanji, urged the Federal Government to address rising fuel and transportation costs through targeted interventions, warning that a return to petrol subsidies could revive supply shortages and undermine investment in the downstream petroleum sector.

He said the government should prioritise areas directly affecting household welfare, particularly public transportation, rather than suppressing petrol prices in ways that could distort supply and discourage investment.

“Look at particular areas. Look at how and where people are suffering the most, and put resources into those things,” he said, suggesting that support for transport operators could help reduce the burden of high fares on commuters.

Oyebanji acknowledged the hardship facing Nigerians but argued that although deregulation had exposed consumers to higher prices, it had also reduced the fuel queues and scarcity associated with previous periods of regulated pricing. He warned that artificially suppressing prices could encourage diversion to markets where sellers could recover their costs, leaving domestic consumers facing shortages.

He also cautioned that unpredictable government interventions could weaken investor confidence, particularly among businesses that borrowed heavily to establish refineries and other petroleum infrastructure.

“When you invest in a refinery with the expectation that when your costs go up, you will be able to recover based on the price you are selling, and then your selling price is fixed at a particular level, what does that do to your economy?” he asked.

The chairman called for stronger government support for compressed natural gas (CNG) infrastructure, arguing that inadequate incentives and slow implementation could delay the development of alternatives capable of reducing dependence on petrol. He also questioned proposals requiring petroleum operators to absorb price increases temporarily, saying the duration, scale and eventual recovery of such costs would need to be clearly defined.

The planned conference will address competition in Nigeria’s evolving downstream market, including the balance between attracting investment in domestic refining, preventing excessive market concentration and protecting consumers. Other sessions will examine regional petroleum trade, regulatory cooperation, refinery competitiveness, gas infrastructure, logistics and access to finance.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of OTL Africa Downstream Development Limited, Joyce Akabogu, said the gathering would also explore how improved infrastructure, compatible product standards and more effective trade corridors could strengthen energy market integration across Africa.

The strategic conference and trade exhibition will hold from October 26 to 29, alongside industry networking engagements, the anniversary dinner and awards, the Founders’ Fireside Forum and a scheduled Dangote Refinery tour.

The event comes as geopolitical uncertainty, foreign-exchange pressures and rising energy costs continue to test petroleum supply chains, reinforcing questions about how governments and industry operators can secure reliable supplies while ensuring that the cost of energy does not further strain households and businesses.