After days of verbal exchanges, the Federal Government has stepped in to settle the rift between founder of Dangote Industries, Aliko Dangote, and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Nigerians were stunned when Africa’s richest man said local and international players were bent frustrating his moves to fully commence production in his refinery.
In response, NMDPRA said the government was yet to license the Dangote refinery to begin operations even as it said the products of the refinery were sub-standard.
Farouk Ahmed, the chief executive officer (CEO) of NMDPRA, told journalists that the claims of ongoing efforts to scuttle the operations of Dangote refinery due to lack of supply of crude oil by International Oil Companies were not true.
He disclosed that Dangote refinery was still at the pre-commissioning stage and has not been licensed yet.
However, on Monday, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, convened a high-level meeting to resolve the raging crisis.
According to a statement by the Minister’s Special Adviser Media and Communication, Nneamaka Okafor, Mr. Aliko Dangote, Chairman and CEO of Dangote Group; Mr. Farouk Ahmed, Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA); 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), all attended the meeting.
“The stakeholders expressed their gratitude to the minister for his exemplary leadership and timely intervention in facilitating this crucial dialogue. The meeting focused on finding a sustainable and lasting solution to the current impasse affecting the Dangote Refinery, with all parties demonstrating a commitment to collaborative and proactive problem-solving”, the statement read in part.
The statement added that the minister emphasized the importance of cooperation and synergy among all stakeholders to ensure the success and optimal performance of the Oil and Gas sector, which is pivotal for Nigeria’s economic growth and energy security.
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