Lokpobiri, NMDPRA, NUPRC, NNPC Leadership Meets With Aliko Dangote

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, along with other key stakeholders, have held a meeting with Aliko Dangote, Chairman and CEO of Dangote Group, to discuss various concerns regarding 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 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.