Patrick Atuanya Deregulation. How this one word remains an enigma with regards to the downstream oil and gas sector in Nigeria must be one of the wonders of the world. How can it be that something so glaringly and clearly the best way to go for Nigeria is not being adopted – especially when short term fixes like subsidies and pseudo deregulation policies have failed to make any impact? The billions of naira Africa’s largest oil-producing country commits to subsidising petrol is no longer news, but what is more infuriating is the opportunity cost forgone in a slow growing economy that could use more private sector investments for job creation and growth.