Abuja — The House of Representatives Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources has invited the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to an emergency meeting following a dispute that threatens stability in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.
Chairman of the committee, Ikenga Ugochinyere, disclosed this after an emergency meeting held in Abuja on Monday, warning that escalating tensions between key industry players could undermine recent gains achieved in fuel supply, pricing, and regulation.
Ugochinyere said the committee’s intervention had become necessary as Nigeria continues efforts to stabilise the petroleum market in the post-fuel subsidy era.
“We are guarding the hard-won stability in the downstream sector. Sustainable solutions require that we identify and address the critical issues, which is why we have invited the leadership of Dangote Refinery and the NMDPRA,” he said.
The lawmaker explained that the renewed tension followed concerns and allegations raised by Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, against the petroleum regulator. He noted that several petitions submitted to the committee relate to the issuance of import licences and questions surrounding the capacity of domestic refineries to meet Nigeria’s daily petroleum consumption.
According to Ugochinyere, the committee will comprehensively examine all outstanding matters when both the refinery and regulatory authorities appear before lawmakers.
He stressed that resolving the disagreement is critical to maintaining investor confidence and ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply amid ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
