The House of Representatives Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources ( Downstream and Midstream), has intervened in the dispute between Dangote Refinery and NMDPRA, summoning both parties to present their grievances.
The committee has also ordered a cessation of media hostilities pending a swift investigation and resolution.
The Committees led by Ikenga Ugochinyere and Henry Okogie disclosed this after an emergency meeting convened in response to what they described as “growing tension” capable of undermining the fragile stability recently achieved in the sector.
According to Ugochinyere, the joint committee is compelled to act swiftly to prevent further escalation, especially at a time when government and industry stakeholders are working to stabilise supply, pricing and regulation in the post-subsidy era.
“The key issue that necessitated this emergency meeting was the growing tension that has returned to the downstream sector as a result of concerns and allegations raised by Aliko Dangote against the NMDPRA,” Ugochinyere said.
He added:“This is coming at a time when the committee is jealously guarding the stability that has been achieved in the sector.”
He said the committee resolved to formally invite both the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, and the leadership of the NMDPRA to appear before it and provide detailed explanations on the issues fueling the dispute so that the committees can come out with the needed decisions and resolutions that will resolve the matter .
The lawmaker explained that only a clear understanding of the underlying problems would enable the National Assembly to broker lasting solutions without fear or favour.
“We can only find sustainable solutions when we identify the critical issues leading to this tension. That is why the committee resolved to write to Aliko Dangote and the NMDPRA chief, to meet with us and give insights into what is driving these allegations and counter-allegations,” he said.
“We resolved to plead with the contending parties to cease fire, especially media comments, so that the situation does not escalate further,” Ugochinyere noted.
Ugochiyere said, “The committee has the capacity to wade into this matter and find solutions once and for all.”
He revealed that the committee has already received petitions touching on critical industry concerns, including the issuance of import licences and questions around whether domestic refineries have the capacity to meet Nigeria’s daily petroleum needs.
“These are serious issues. Some relate to import licences, others to whether local refineries can produce enough to satisfy national demand which the investigation been undertaken by the committee will resolve” he said.
Ugochinyere stressed that all outstanding matters would be thoroughly examined when key stakeholders in the refining and regulatory space appear before the committee.
