Some local refinery operators have lamented that the announcement made by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, stating that the Federal Government would continue to import fuel, shows that the government had taken sides against local refineries.

The operators, under the aegis of the Crude Oil Refiners Association of Nigeria, expressed worry over the recent widely circulated interview of the Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA, Ahmed Farouk, who was quoted as having described locally produced diesel as ‘inferior’ to imported ones.

It was also reported on Friday that the Federal Government, through the NMDPRA, declared that the importation of refined petroleum products into Nigeria was going to continue alongside the production of commodities by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to prevent monopoly and ensure energy security.

The government had also warned against being over-dependent on the $20bn refinery located in the Lekki Free Zone in Lagos, stressing that the demand by the refinery that all oil marketers should buy products from the plant does not support competition.

Farouk, who had disclosed this in an interview with journalists in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, was said to have stated that the diesel produced by some local refineries was inferior to the ones imported into Nigeria, a development that perturbed local refiners.

Reacting to the position of the regulator, through their umbrella body, the indigenous crude oil refiners declared that the government had taken sides against local refineries.

The Publicity Secretary of the Crude Oil Refiners Association of Nigeria, Eche Idoko, said, “We are worried that the Chief Executive of NMDPRA would make such categorical statements, suggesting strongly that he is taking sides. So much so that he even ridicules his own agency’s processes when he refers to the petroleum products produced by refineries that his agency closely regulates as inferior, thereby undermining the country’s health and safety procedures. This has huge implications for the oil and gas industry, and energy security in Nigeria.”

The NMDPRA boss had stated that Dangote Refinery had requested the regulator to stop giving import licences to other marketers so as 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 the 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 it is not good for the market because of monopoly,” Farouk stressed.

However, local refiners alleged that the views of the NMDPRA boss had shown that the efforts of indigenous refineries were being discredited by many detractors.

“In the last few days, we have had a barrage of misinformation thrown at the indigenous refineries, including Dangote, Aradel, Waltersmith, and our other members, from detractors and elements working against the country’s quest to achieve self-sufficiency in domestic petroleum refining. This is not completely surprising to us as we know the agenda to keep the country perpetually dependent on foreign oil merchants, and the desire to continue to pilfer the wealth of the country by a few greedy individuals is deep.

“It is, however, surprising, and we are indeed dismayed, that a person meant to regulate a sector appears to be taking a position against players in the industry he is supposed to be regulating and is misstating the facts,” Idoko stated.

He argued that about two years ago, the NMDPRA confirmed that the Dangote refinery was over 90 per cent completed, and wondered why the agency’s boss would declare that the plant had not been completed and was operating without a licence.

“From the two reports I shared with you, you can see Farouk contradicting the organisation he oversees in an obvious attempt to discredit the efforts of local refineries in the country. This struggle is not about an individual or a particular company. It is about the country and its survival. It is about the Nigerian citizenry. At this rate, we are truly worried about the ability of NMDPRA to provide a level playing field for all stakeholders going forward,” the indigenous refiners stated.


The NMDPRA boss had, during the interview, revealed that the Dangote refinery, which had been selling diesel and aviation fuel in Nigeria for months, had not been licensed, stating that the plant was still at the pre-commissioning stage.

MOMAN’s reaction

Also, the Executive Secretary of the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria, Clement Isong, described the NMDPRA comments as clear and direct. Isong told our correspondent that the sector needs that kind of information from the regulator.

“Clear and direct! We need this open and direct communication from time to time from the regulator to help the public dissect the issues that so seriously concern them,” he stated.

No level-playing field – IPMAN

The National Public Relations Officer of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Ukadike Chinedu, criticised the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, International Oil Companies operating in Nigeria, and NMDPRA for allegedly frustrating indigenous refiners. He said the IOCs and NNPC were not supplying enough crude to the Dangote refinery and modular refineries, adding that the claims against indigenous refiners by NMDPRA were unnecessary.

“Those claims were unnecessary. We all know that these indigenous refiners are truly going through a lot, particularly with respect to accessing crude oil needed to produce refined products. So, they have a right to complain about this, knowing that Nigeria is a crude oil producer that exports this commodity to other refineries in foreign nations. You export the product, while your refineries are being starved. That’s not a good thing,” Ukadike stated.

Meanwhile, some former Group Managing Directors of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (now Company Limited) have expressed concern over the limited information on NNPCL’s operations in the public domain since its transition to a private commercial entity. NNPC officially transitioned into a private commercial entity in July 2022 after the Presidential assent on the Petroleum Industry Act in August 2022.

The former GMDs of the national oil firm met with the current Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Mele Kyari, during a CEO forum in Abuja on Saturday. They commended the company for its achievements but raised concerns about its limited public information.

In a communique issued at the end of the forum and signed by a former GMD, Dr Gaius Obaseki, the former NNPC helmsmen said, “We also noted that limited information is in the public domain on NNPC’s operations since the transition to a private commercial entity. This has led to misleading commentary which we believe is not in tandem with the strides achieved by the company.”

The communique listed the former GMDs at the forum to include Chief Chamberlain Oyibo, Dr Gaius Obaseki, Funsho Kupolokun, Abubakar Yar’adua, Austen Oniwon, and Andrew Yakubu.

Dangote refinery eyes 550,000bpd

Dangote Petroleum Refinery will reach 550,000 barrels per day of crude oil refining output this year, the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, said on Saturday.


Dangote disclosed this during a tour of the $20bn plant located in the Lekki Free Zone in Lagos State, Reuters reported.

He, however, stated that the refinery would have to increase crude imports due to insufficient domestic supplies.

He said the 650,000bpd-capacity refinery, the largest in Africa, had only received five crude cargoes from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited since it started operating earlier this year, instead of the 15 it expected.

“That is why we went ahead and bought some Brazilian crude, and we also got United States crude. Anytime we go to IOCs, they say go to brokers,” Dangote stated.

Source: https://punchng.com/Fuel-import-FG-working-against-local-refineries-operators-cry-out

It's great to see the FG prioritizing fuel import to stabilize the market. Local refineries can still play a crucial role in our economy. Let's hope for a balanced approach that benefits everyone involved.

Lol! Renewed Shege is really on in full force.By the time BAT is done with Nigeria,Haiti would be a paradise compared to her.
No sensible and responsible government would like to be still wasting resources importing petrol while refineries are there.
And the useless government has been promising to fully activate the existing refineries to full operation capacity,yet nothing tangible has occurred with those refineries.
But even if they go eventually into full refining capacity, the useless government would still find a loophole to be wasting funds on importation of fuel.

The operators should stop crying and start refining locally. This is a good opportunity for them to showcase their ability to refine locally instead of depending solely on importation.

Those people like Farouk Ahmed are saboteurs. I laughed at the foolish man so called interview. Corrupt set of people

The local refiners should also start getting serious..

I support farouk. The local refiners should step up their game. And definitely it is criminal to commit our national energy security to a single private entity like dangote.... His antecedents in the cement industry is still visible to the blind and loud to the deaf.

No monopoly!



However protest must shele against unnecessary and unproductive hardship in the land

At this rate, Tinubu would be lucky to remain till 2027

Northerners occupying oil agencies when they hv no drop of oil in d North.
They can never do well.

Lolz. When I said tinubu is anti people, they mobbed me with unprintable names. Isn't this another proof? No more tori, I'm just reminding sensible Nigerians on NL ni. There's no single policy of tinubu which is directed at the masses' wellbeing or welfare. The floating of the naira is the worst policy since Nigeria's existence.

Obidients nationwide please don't join their protest. We sounded enough warnings.

They took all the oil well and gave themselves all government positions in oil agencies. Built refineries and took all the import licenses.
Yet, they still cry !
It’s not about stealing the village drum, but how do you beat it?

This is Nigeria, problem no dey finish.

Falz talk am, " this is Nigeria"

How

I don't seem to get why tinubu is hiding the fact they are paying subsidies

The lies makes no sense


Local refineries would expose the subsidy payments because there is no how u can refine and sale below ₦1200 and also break even

..,

APC regime 🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️

Una don see am na.

When I said the northerners turned NNPC to a cartel of illeterates and mafia

The most corrupt entity in the world. Is NNPC

adenigga:



Source: https://punchng.com/Fuel-import-FG-working-against-local-refineries-operators-cry-out

APC no wan make Naija better.

FG in collaboration with people with people like Dangote (the greedy bastard) is actually the major saboteur in this whole fuel crisis and inflation.


IMAGINE DANGOTÈ FOOLING THE WHOLE NIGERIANS THAT, HE CAN'T GET OIL FROM HIS COUNTRY THAT'S THE 6TH LARGEST PRODUCER AND EXPORTER IN THE WORLD, AND HE HAS TO BUY FROM USA THAT'S THE BIGGEST IMPORTER OF CRUDE OIL IN THE WORLD...
ALL GAMES JUST TO KEEP THE PRICE OF PETROL HIGH...

Na una know oh... One day dis nonsense go stop

Ok

sIfioksq:
It's great to see the FG prioritizing fuel import to stabilize the market. Local refineries can still play a crucial role in our economy. Let's hope for a balanced approach that benefits everyone involved.

Imports will stabilise the market? Not surprised this is coming from an APC supporter

Who will join protest against these groups of criminals calling themselves,,,, GOVERNMENT?


click LIKE if you will be there to rescue Nigeria

SHARE if the situation of the country no concern you

Flood the market with your local product or let them continue to import,na so una ban importation of rice when local one no Dey available.
They are only interested in their pockets

adenigga:



Source: https://punchng.com/Fuel-import-FG-working-against-local-refineries-operators-cry-out

Anything that will not bring TAX, will not be allowed. The builder of Lagos, no industry, but owomida. They never wanted Nigeria to develop. Story for another day.

Emzedz:
Northerners occupying oil agencies when they hv no drop of oil in d North.
They can never do well.

no be juju be that

Eriokanmi:
Lolz. When I said tinubu is anti people, they mobbed me with unprintable names. Isn't this another proof? No more tori, I'm just reminding sensible Nigerians on NL ni. There's no single policy of tinubu which is directed at the masses' wellbeing or welfare. The floating of the naira is the worst policy since Nigeria's existence.

Obidients nationwide please don't join their protest. We sounded enough warnings.

Give ur phone to someone who understands english language very well, let him interprete it for u in igbo dialet.


It's obvious you can't comprehend the post.

sIfioksq:
It's great to see the FG prioritizing fuel import to stabilize the market. Local refineries can still play a crucial role in our economy. Let's hope for a balanced approach that benefits everyone involved.

Did you read the news piece at all?

Federal Government is working against local refineries