By Christiana Ekpa
The House of Representatives Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream and Midstream) has moved to douse rising tensions in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, summoning the leadership of the Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) over allegations and counter-allegations threatening sector stability.
The committees, chaired by Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and Hon. Henry Okogie, took the decision after an emergency meeting convened in response to what lawmakers described as a renewed wave of tension capable of undermining recent gains in supply, pricing, and regulation in the post-subsidy era.
Briefing journalists, Ugochinyere said the joint committee resolved to invite the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, alongside the leadership of the NMDPRA, to appear before it and fully present their grievances and claims for swift legislative resolution.
“The key issue that necessitated this emergency meeting is the growing tension in the downstream sector arising from concerns and allegations raised by Alhaji Aliko Dangote against the NMDPRA,” Ugochinyere said. “This is coming at a time when the committee is jealously guarding the stability that has been achieved in the sector.”
He stressed that the House was compelled to act quickly to prevent further escalation, noting that only a clear and impartial understanding of the issues would allow the National Assembly to broker lasting solutions in the national interest.
“We can only find sustainable solutions when we identify the critical issues driving these tensions. That is why we resolved to formally invite both parties to provide detailed explanations before the committee,” he added.
In a firm move to calm frayed nerves, the committee also directed both sides to halt all public exchanges and media comments while legislative intervention is ongoing.
“We resolved to plead with the contending parties to cease fire, especially in the media, so the situation does not escalate further,” Ugochinyere said, assuring that the committee’s investigation would be swift and concluded within days.
He revealed that the committee has already received petitions touching on sensitive industry matters, including the issuance of import licences and questions surrounding the capacity of domestic refineries to meet Nigeria’s daily petroleum demand.
“These are serious concerns—ranging from import licences to whether local refineries can produce enough to satisfy national needs. Our investigation will address all of these,” he said.
According to the lawmaker, the committee is confident it has the capacity to wade into the dispute and resolve it once and for all, adding that all stakeholders in the refining and regulatory space would be thoroughly engaged.
“By the time Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the NMDPRA, and other stakeholders meet with us, we will get the full picture and come up with resolutions that provide sustainable solutions for the sector,” he assured.
Ugochinyere said the decisions announced reflected the unanimous outcome of the committee’s closed-door deliberations, a position affirmed by all members present.
The intervention comes amid heightened public scrutiny of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum industry, with expectations running high around local refining capacity, regulatory clarity, and a stable, affordable fuel supply.
