Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has intervened in the dispute between Dangote Refinery’s management and some key stakeholders in the oil and gas sector which has affected operations of the refinery lately.
Lokpobiri on Monday, convened a high-level meeting with key stakeholders in the oil and gas sector with the goal of resolving the issues around Dangote Refinery’s operations.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThose at the meeting included Dangote Group, chairman, Aliko Dangote, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, and Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, Mele Kyari.
In a post on his X handle on Monday, Lokpobiri said: “ I convened a high-level meeting with top executives from Dangote Group, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC) to address the ongoing issues surrounding the Dangote Refinery.
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“The meeting was a collaborative effort to find sustainable solutions to the challenges affecting the refinery.
“All parties involved demonstrated a strong commitment to proactive problem-solving and expressed their gratitude for the leadership and timely intervention provided.
“I emphasised the critical importance of cooperation and synergy among all stakeholders to ensure the success and optimal performance of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, which is essential for the country’s economic growth and energy security.”
Dangote had earlier alleged that regulatory authorities in the oil and gas downstream sector were allowing importation of substandard products into the country.
In response, the NMDPRA chief Executive on Thursday, said imported petroleum products were better than what was being produced in the Dangote Refinery.
Also, in a video that went viral Farouk Ahmed claimed Dangote had requested that they stop importation of petroleum products so that only his would be supplying across the country.
“We cannot rely heavily on one refinery to feed the nation, because Dangote is requesting that we should suspend or stop importation of all petroleum products, especially AGO and direct all marketers to the refinery, that is not good for the nation in terms of energy security. And that is not good for the market, because of monopoly,” Ahmed had stated.
However, Dangote, on Saturday, insisted that diesel produced in his refinery was tested and proved to be of good quality in line with set standards, especially for sulfur content. He therefore challenged the authorities to visit the refinery and test the products.
Prime Business Africa reports that the Africa’s richest man also in an interview on Sunday with Premium Times said he was being accused of monopoly and offered to sell the refinery to NNPCL.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
