The Conference of Energy & Finance Consultants (CEFC) has called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to support local refineries in Nigeria. The group specifically urged the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, and the CEO of NMDPRA, Mr. Farouk Ahmed, to encourage local refineries to grow.

In a statement signed by Engr. Anthony Igeriwa, Spokesman for the Conference, the group expressed concerns that the NNPCL plans to withhold crude oil supply to Dangote and other local refineries in Nigeria. This move, according to the group, is aimed at promoting continued importation of petroleum resources, which has hindered economic growth and posed health risks to consumers due to adulteration of products.

“The NNPCL is apprehensive of the efforts of the Dangote Refinery and other local refineries for ending the regime of corruption in the oil sector,” the statement said. “The fuel importation cabal wants fuel importation to continue, and hence, they are planning to stop the release of crude oil to the Dangote Refinery and others.”

The group noted that the Dangote Petrochemical Refinery in Lagos is the largest single and private refinery in Africa, and its refined fuel is of high quality and not adulterated. They argued that the low importation level in January and February 2025 has helped reduce corruption amongst stakeholders in the country.

The CEFC called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the ongoing probe of the importation of adulterated petroleum products to Nigeria, urging them to stand with the masses by ensuring crude oil is adequately and regularly supplied to Dangote and other local refineries in Nigeria.