The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has cautioned the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and other national regulators against undermining Dangote Refinery and other domestic producers.
MAN’s Director-General, Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, issued a statement addressing the ongoing conflict between Dangote Refinery and NMDPRA.
“It is expected that agencies of government, that provide regulatory oversight functions, should promote an enabling business environment for local investments to thrive.
“No regulatory agency should be seen to be casting a shadow over a homegrown investment like the Dangote Refinery.
“The allegations of poor quality, monopolistic tendencies and non-issuance of license have since been roundly debunked.
“There may then be the need to issue a clarification that absolves the Dangote Refinery of the negative perception generated by the news report,” he said.
Last week, NMDPRA’s Chief Executive Officer, Farouk Ahmed, claimed that diesel from the Dangote refinery was of inferior quality compared to imports.
He also mentioned that the refinery had not yet been commissioned and criticized the firm’s monopolistic tendencies.
In response, Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, refuted Ahmed’s assertions, maintaining that diesel and other petroleum products from his refinery are of high quality.
The Senate, the House of Representatives, and Minister of Petroleum Resources, Oil, Heineken Lokpobiri, have intervened to resolve the dispute.
The House Committee on Midstream and Downstream has launched an investigation into the issue.
Additionally, Lokpobiri convened a meeting with Dangote, Ahmed, and the Group CEO of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, to address the sector’s crisis.
