Lokpobiri meets with Dangote, NMDPRA boss, Kyari over fuel dispute

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has convened a high-level meeting with key stakeholders in the oil and gas sector to resolve the ongoing issues surrounding the Dangote Refinery.

The meeting, held on Monday, brought together Chairman and CEO of Dangote Group, 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.

This was contained in a statement released on Monday by Lokpobiri’s Special Adviser Media and Communication, Nneamaka Okafor.

“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 Honourable Minister emphasised 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,” the statement read.

Dangote had on Sunday offered to sell his stake in the Dangote Refinery to the NNPC amid accusations of monopoly in the industry.

Dangote made the offer in an exclusive interview with Premium Times.

This came after the chief executive of NMDPRA made claims that Dangote had requested the regulator to stop giving import licences to other marketers to be the only fuel supplier in Nigeria.

“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 disclosed in a video interview with State House correspondents.