Reps ask Dangote Refinery, NMDPRA to cease feud over crude oil supply

The House of Representatives has asked the Dangote refinery and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to cease the feud over substandard petroleum products and the non-availability of domestic crude oil supply challenges.

Chairman of the joint Committee on Midstream and Downstream, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere disclosed this in a statement on Monday, noting that the committee has commenced investigation into the matter.

Accordingly, the lawmakers summoned Aliko Dangote, NMDPRA and other stakeholders in the sector to amicably resolve the issue.

“We are firstly addressing allegations concerning the importation of substandard petroleum products and the non-availability of crude oil to domestic refineries, which has raised serious concerns about the quality and safety of fuel in our market.

“Additionally, we are going to take a closer look at the integrity of the testing processes for petroleum products in the country, particularly focusing on the capacity and credibility of all the testing labs of all stakeholders in the downstream midstream value chain, local middlemen and the laboratories they employ”.

“So given the above, the joint committee resolved that both parties in the raging argument; Dangote Refinery, other refining companies, NMDPRA, marketers and relevant stakeholders should henceforth cease further allegations and counter-allegations conclusion and outcome of the investigation”.

Recall that last week Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA said that petroleum products of Dangote Refinery are inferior.

The statement has since sparked a wide range of reactions among Nigerians and stakeholders in the sector.

However, in reaction, the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote dismissed Ahmed’s statement, insisting that petroleum products are not inferior.