On Monday, the federal government intervened in the escalating conflict over crude oil supply issues between its regulatory bodies and the Dangote Refinery.
Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), convened a high-level meeting with key stakeholders to address the growing media attention on the matter.
The dispute began when Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Group, accused certain parties of undermining the operations of the multi-billion-dollar Dangote Refinery.
The situation intensified when Mr. Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), claimed that the refinery lacked necessary licensing and that its products had excessive sulphur content.
Ahmed also alleged that Dangote was advocating for a ban on petrol imports and directing all marketers to his refinery,Dangote Group has vehemently denied these allegations.
The Monday meeting, confirmed by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Nneamaka Okafor, included key figures such as Dangote, Ahmed, Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and Mr. Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC).
Further details of the discussions were not disclosed following the meeting.
