Oil Minister, NMDPRA, NUPRC, NNPC leadership meet with Dangote
CHIGOZIE AMADI
The Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, and other key stakeholders in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry have held a meeting with the Chairman and CEO of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, over issues surrounding the Dangote Refinery.
Dangote and Nigeria’s regulatory authorities have been in dispute in recent weeks over the refinery located in the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State.
It reached a new high when the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) said the government was yet to license the refinery for the commencement of operations.
But as part of moves to resolve the issues, Lokpobiri and other players in the oil and gas sector met with Dangote on Monday.
In a statement by the Special Adviser Media and Communication to the minister Nneamaka Okafor, those who attended the meeting included the Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (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 (NNPCL) 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 minister’s aide said.
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