A coalition of 28 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has announced plans to rigorously oversee the Nigerian National Petroleum Limited’s (NNPCL) crude oil sales to the Dangote Refinery. The CSOs aim to ensure that the transactions between the state-owned oil company and the privately owned refinery adhere to transparency and regulatory standards.
During a recent tour of the 650,000 barrels per day refinery in Lagos, Solomon Adodo from the Rise Up for A United Nigeria, representing the coalition, voiced concerns over the government’s apparent lack of support for the local refinery. Adodo criticized the government’s reluctance to back the refinery, which has significant potential to address Nigeria’s fuel crisis and foreign exchange issues.
The CSOs accused the NNPCL of ignoring President Bola Tinubu’s directive to conduct crude oil sales to the Dangote Refinery in Naira. They committed to intensifying their advocacy efforts to urge the government to prioritize the refinery’s operation and ensure its success.
In a statement issued on Monday, Adodo lamented the perceived deliberate sabotage by NNPCL and regulatory agencies against the nation’s refineries, suggesting a preference for continued petroleum imports. He emphasized the coalition’s determination to establish a monitoring mechanism to ensure compliance with the presidential directive.
The Vice President of Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, supported the CSOs’ concerns and highlighted the refinery’s potential to revolutionize Nigeria’s economy. He pointed to the refinery’s challenges, particularly in securing crude oil supply, but reaffirmed its commitment to transforming the petroleum sector, drawing parallels to Dangote’s successes in the cement and sugar industries.
