Minister of state for petroleum resources (oil) Heineken Lokpobiri on Monday held a meeting with the chairman of Dangote Group Aliko Dangote and other stakeholders over the controversy around the Dangote Refinery in Lagos.
This comes amid allegations and counter-allegations made by Dangote and the country’s oil regulators. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) even claimed the refinery had not been licensed.
In a statement by the minister’s special adviser on media and communication, Nneamaka Okafor, those who attended the meeting include the chief executive of 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 (NNPC) Mele Kyari.
They all thanked the minister for his leadership and intervention in a bid to resolve the issues.
“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,” the statement read.
Lokpobiri at the meeting restated the importance of cooperation among stakeholders to ensure the success of the oil and gas sector which he said is critical 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 statement said.
