The House of Representatives Joint Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream and Midstream) step in to address rising tensions between the Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). The committees summon Aliko Dangote and the NMDPRA leadership to appear before the National Assembly and order an immediate halt to all public and media exchanges on the dispute.
According to Mediaplusng.com, the joint committees, led by Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and Hon. Henry Okogie, take the decision after an emergency meeting triggered by what lawmakers describe as renewed instability in the downstream petroleum sector. They warn that the ongoing allegations and counter-allegations risk undermining recent gains in supply and regulation.
Hon. Ugochinyere says the intervention becomes necessary to prevent further escalation at a sensitive time for the industry, especially as government and stakeholders work to stabilize pricing, supply, and regulation in the post-subsidy era. He notes that concerns raised by the Dangote Group against the NMDPRA fuel the latest tension.
Mediaplusng.com reports that the committees resolve to formally invite Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the NMDPRA chief to present their positions and clarify the issues driving the dispute. Lawmakers say a clear understanding of the facts will help the National Assembly reach fair, lasting resolutions that protect the national interest.
The committees also direct both parties to suspend all media comments and public accusations while the legislative review is ongoing. Lawmakers stress that continued public exchanges could worsen the situation and distract from efforts to achieve stability in the sector.
Ugochinyere assures that the committees have the capacity to resolve the matter quickly, adding that investigations will be concluded within days. He discloses that the House has already received petitions on key industry issues, including the issuance of fuel import licences and questions over the capacity of local refineries to meet Nigeria’s daily petroleum demand.
The lawmaker explains that these concerns will be thoroughly examined when Dangote, NMDPRA officials, and other stakeholders appear before the committees. He says the goal is to establish the facts, address regulatory and operational gaps, and restore confidence in the downstream petroleum sector.
Reiterating the call for calm, the committees urge all sides to cooperate fully and avoid actions that could deepen divisions. They insist that the intervention reflects a unanimous position of the joint committees and is aimed at safeguarding stability, investment, and steady fuel supply.
The development comes amid intense public scrutiny of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum industry, with growing expectations around local refining, regulatory clarity, and sustainable energy security for the country.
