Petroleum minister, NMDPRA, NUPRC, NNPC leaders meet with Dangote over threats to sell off refinery

Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State Petroleum Resources [Oil], and other stakeholders met with Aliko Dangote, Chairman and CEO of Dangote Group, to discuss issues surrounding the Dangote Refinery.

Dangote and Nigeria’s regulatory authorities have been at odds in recent weeks over the refinery in the Ibeju-Lekki district of Lagos State.

It hit a new high when the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) said that the government had yet to licence the refinery to begin operations.

Lokpobiri and other oil and gas industry players, however, met with Dangote on Monday in an effort to resolve the difficulties.

According to the Special Adviser Media and Communication to the Minister Nneamaka Okafor, those who attended the meeting include the Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) Gbenga Komolafe, and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mele K.

They all congratulated the minister for leading and intervening to fix the concerns.

“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,” according to a statement.

At the meeting, Lokpobiri emphasised the need of stakeholder cooperation in ensuring the success of the oil and gas sector, which he described as crucial to Nigeria’s economic growth and energy security.

“This meeting marks a significant step towards resolving the challenges and underscores the Minister’s dedication to fostering a conducive environment for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector,” the minister’s aide said.