The House of Representatives Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream and Midstream) has invited the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority in an effort to resolve the growing dispute between the two parties.
The decision was announced on Monday by the chairmen of the Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream and Midstream), Ikenga Ugochinyere and Henry Okogie, following an emergency meeting convened in Abuja amid concerns that the disagreement could undermine the relative stability recently recorded in the downstream petroleum sector.
Ugochinyere, who chairs the Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), said the intervention was necessary to prevent a further escalation of tensions at a time when stakeholders are working to stabilise fuel supply, pricing and regulatory processes in the post-subsidy environment.
“The key issue that necessitated this emergency meeting was the growing tension that has returned to the downstream sector as a result of concerns and allegations raised by Alhaji Aliko Dangote against the NMDPRA.
“This is coming at a time when the committee is jealously guarding the stability that has been achieved in the sector,” he said.
The rift between the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the NMDPRA has centred on regulatory decisions affecting import licences, access to crude supply, pricing transparency and the broader role of domestic refineries in meeting Nigeria’s fuel demand.
Since the commencement of phased operations at the Dangote Refinery, disagreements have emerged over whether continued fuel importation undermines local refining, as well as allegations of regulatory bias and bottlenecks in approvals.
These issues have played out publicly, raising concerns among industry stakeholders and policymakers about their potential impact on market confidence, supply stability and the objectives of the Petroleum Industry Act, which seeks to promote domestic refining, competition and private sector-led growth.
Ugochinyere said the committee resolved to formally invite the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, and the leadership of the NMDPRA to appear before it and provide detailed explanations on the issues fuelling the dispute, with a view to finding a lasting solution.
“We can only find sustainable solutions when we identify the critical issues leading to this tension. That is why the committee resolved to write to Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the NMDPRA chief to have them provide insights into the allegations and counter-allegations,” he said.
The committee also urged both parties to refrain from public exchanges while the legislative intervention is ongoing.
“We resolved to plead with the contending parties to cease fire, especially media comments, so that the situation does not escalate further.
“The committee has the capacity to wade into this matter and find solutions once and for all,” Ugochinyere said.
He disclosed that the committee had already received petitions raising critical industry concerns, including the issuance of import licences and questions over whether domestic refineries have sufficient capacity to meet Nigeria’s daily petroleum requirements.
“These are serious issues. Some relate to import licences, others to whether local refineries can produce enough to satisfy national demand, which the investigation undertaken by the committee will resolve.
“By the time Aliko Dangote, the NMDPRA, and other stakeholders meet with the committee, we will get the real gist of what is happening and come up with resolutions that provide sustainable solutions for the sector,” he assured.
The Imo lawmaker further appealed to all parties to suspend further accusations while the committee works to address the matter.
“We are pleading with them to cease further attacks on each other, whether from the regulatory agency or the refining community, while the committee sorts out these issues,” he said.
The Joint Committee reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the gains recorded in the downstream sector since the implementation of subsidy removal and the PIA, stressing that its intervention is aimed at strengthening regulatory clarity, promoting fair competition and ensuring energy security for the country.
