The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has issued an official statement clarifying recent misrepresentations concerning the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPCL) refinery operations. This clarification followed reports from a recent conference in Lagos, where it was erroneously stated that the minister had directed NNPCL to cease its refinery operations.
Lokpobiri, addressing the false claims, emphasized that the statements attributed to him by Engr. Kamoru Busari, the Director of Upstream at the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, was inaccurate. Busari had represented the minister at the conference and allegedly conveyed that NNPCL should focus solely on equity participation in external refinery operations. However, Lokpobiri has since refuted this, stressing that the assertion does not reflect either his stance or the Federal Government’s policy on the oil sector.
In a social media post, Lokpobiri made it clear that NNPCL operates independently under the guidelines of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), functioning as a corporate entity with its board and management. “The Ministry of Petroleum Resources neither controls nor manages NNPCL’s day-to-day operations,” Lokpobiri reiterated, distancing the ministry from direct oversight of NNPCL’s refinery management.
The minister further explained that Nigeria’s oil and gas sector is fully deregulated, with the government’s role limited to providing strategic oversight and guidance to the sector’s operations. Lokpobiri reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to promoting in-country refining capabilities, urging NNPCL and other companies in the sector to continue operating based on global best practices, prioritizing efficiency, transparency, and profitability.
Lokpobiri reassured stakeholders that NNPCL remains aligned with the country’s goals to expand its refining capacity, emphasizing that the government remains supportive of efforts to modernize and optimize the oil and gas sector. He also clarified that NNPCL’s operations continue to follow international standards, and the government is committed to fostering growth in the sector without directly interfering in corporate decisions.
This clarification underscores Lokpobiri’s commitment to maintaining the integrity and independence of the country’s oil and gas companies, ensuring that Nigeria’s energy sector remains competitive and aligned with global industry standards.
