In a bid to address the lingering issues surrounding the Dangote Refinery, a high-level meeting was convened on Monday between the Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, and Aliko Dangote, Chairman and CEO of Dangote Group.
The meeting also included leadership representatives from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
The discussions aimed to resolve the dispute that has been ongoing between Dangote and regulatory authorities, particularly regarding the licensing of the refinery for operational commencement.
In a statement by the Special Adviser Media and Communication to the minister Nneamaka Okafor, those who attended the meeting include 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.
