Dangote vs NMDPRA: Don’t take sides – Northern group tells Reps

The Northern Group Frontiers called has called on the House of Representatives to thoroughly investigate the issues surrounding the Dangote Refinery, without taking sides.

The call followed the House of Representatives’ motion calling for the removal of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) Chief Executive, Farouk Ahmed.

Recall that Ahmed had claimed that Dangote Refinery produces inferior fuel.

Following the development, the House of Representatives urged President Bola Tinubu to suspend Ahmed for his “unguarded comments”.

The lawmakers requested Ahmed’s suspension pending an investigation into the allegations against the NMDPRA.

At a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, the Northwestern Coordinator of Northern Group Frontiers, Ambassador Abdul Usman, called for a thorough investigation of the matter.

Warning that the the lawmakers must not take sides, the group called on the House to also uphold fairness and independent investigations into Dangote’s business practices.

The group equally emphasized the need for protection for whistleblowers and industry regulators.

“The House of Reps should also thoroughly investigate how, since President Obasanjo’s era, Dangote has been the only investor buying all available black oil in Nigerian refineries, shutting out rivals and manipulating the market.”