The conference has the theme: “Funding West Africa Infrastructure and Distribution to Create a Transparent Market for Regional Price Benchmarks.” Ugochinyere said the emergence of West Africa as a refining hub made it imperative for the region to develop a credible benchmark for refined petroleum products. Ugochinyere identified liquidity, deliverability, data integrity and trust as the four foundations required for a credible regional benchmark. He said a credible regional benchmark would enable West Africa to move from being described by external markets to defining its own market realities. NAN reports that Nigeria is leading a regional push to establish an independent West African fuel price benchmark.