By: Maxwell Okoye
The Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Peace, Security, Good Governance, Equity and Justice has strongly condemned what it described as the persistent hostile posture of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) towards the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, alleging that the regulator’s actions are frustrating Nigeria’s quest for energy security and industrial self-sufficiency.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the Coalition’s National Coordinator and Convener, Comrade James Okoronkwo, expressed concern over what he termed a pattern of regulatory actions capable of discouraging local refining while creating an enabling environment for the continued importation of petroleum products.
According to the Coalition, the Dangote Refinery represents one of the most significant industrial investments in Africa and offers Nigeria a historic opportunity to reduce dependence on imported refined petroleum products, conserve foreign exchange, create employment, deepen industrialisation and strengthen national energy security.
The Coalition argued that rather than supporting this strategic national asset, the NMDPRA has allegedly continued to introduce regulatory measures and public narratives that undermine confidence in the refinery’s operations.
Regulatory Actions Raise Serious Questions
The Coalition maintained that the continued issuance of licences for the importation of petroleum products, despite the growing domestic refining capacity, raises fundamental questions about the commitment of relevant regulatory authorities to the Federal Government’s local content and economic diversification agenda.
It alleged that Nigeria has for decades borne the economic burden of importing refined petroleum products, exposing the country to foreign exchange pressures, subsidy-related challenges and the influx of petroleum products that have, at various times, attracted concerns over quality standards.
The Coalition further argued that with the emergence of the Dangote Refinery, capable of producing fuels that meet internationally recognised Euro-V specifications, government institutions should be focused on encouraging local production, strengthening domestic refining capacity and protecting national investments.
“Any action capable of frustrating indigenous refining while creating room for continued dependence on imported petroleum products does not serve Nigeria’s long-term economic interest,” the Coalition stated.
Vote of Confidence in Dangote Refinery
The Coalition passed what it described as a vote of absolute confidence on the management of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, praising its contribution to Nigeria’s industrial development.
It described the refinery as a transformative national project with the capacity to improve fuel supply, stabilise prices, reduce pressure on the naira, attract foreign investment and position Nigeria as a leading exporter of refined petroleum products in Africa.
According to the Coalition, efforts to portray the refinery as constituting a monopoly should instead be balanced with the broader national objective of achieving energy independence, strengthening local production and reducing Nigeria’s vulnerability to external supply disruptions.
Calls for Government Intervention
The Coalition called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene to ensure that regulatory institutions operate transparently, fairly and in the national interest.
Specifically, it urged the government to:
- Ensure a level playing field that encourages domestic refining and protects strategic national investments.
- Review policies permitting the continued importation of petroleum products that do not meet internationally accepted environmental and quality standards.
- Strengthen regulatory oversight to guarantee that all petroleum products supplied within Nigeria comply with established specifications.
- Support policies that prioritise local refining as a catalyst for economic growth, job creation and foreign exchange conservation.
Demand for Legislative Investigation
The Coalition also called on the National Assembly to conduct a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the activities of the NMDPRA concerning petroleum import licensing and regulatory decisions affecting domestic refineries.
According to the group, such an investigation would help reinforce public confidence, strengthen institutional accountability and ensure that regulatory decisions align with Nigeria’s broader economic and industrial objectives.
Commitment to Continued Advocacy
The Coalition reaffirmed its commitment to advocating policies that promote transparency, accountability, industrial development and economic justice.
It stressed that Nigeria’s future depends on institutions working collectively to support productive investments capable of driving sustainable growth and national prosperity rather than policies that could discourage local enterprise.
“The future of Nigeria’s energy sector lies in supporting domestic refining, strengthening our institutions and ensuring that national interest always takes precedence over narrow commercial considerations. Civil society will continue to stand in defence of policies that promote economic growth, transparency and national development,” the statement concluded.
