Allow independent marketers to collect petrol, representatives charge NNPCL, Dangote Refinery

The House of Representatives on Thursday urged the Federal Government to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited and the Dangote Refinery to enable independent marketers to begin extracting fuel from the newly established refinery.

The resolution was reached following the passage of a motion of urgent public interest sponsored by the member representing Yenagoa/Opokuma Federal Constituency, Bayelsa State, Oboku Oforji.

Leading the debate, Oforji noted that although the Dangote Petroleum Refinery commenced operations on September 15, 2024 at its 650,000 barrel per day integrated refinery, only major marketers have been given access by the NNPCL to source products from the refinery.

He said: “The House of Representatives is concerned that NNPCL and the big marketers as exclusive buyers are facilitating a monopoly that amounts to greed. This is the same NNPCL that has failed to manage our crude oil and refineries for decades.

“If this monopoly is not nipped in the bud, the suffering of Nigerians caused by the scarcity of PMS will continue and we all know the consequences on the economy.

“No wonder the late MKO Abiola, of very good memory, complained in a viral video some years ago that the NNPCL lacks transparency and accountability.

“The House is concerned that it is not good enough to allow the NNPCL and major marketers to source Premium Motor Spirit from the refinery, to the exclusion of independent marketers.”

According to him, “IPMAN representatives have expressed fears that the country will be forced to resort to importing fuels to support their businesses.”

The lawmaker commended the parent company, Dangote Group, for taking up petroleum refining, adding that with this achievement, Nigeria’s journey towards energy self-sufficiency may have begun.

“The House notes that this achievement puts Nigeria on the path to energy self-sufficiency, cost and currency savings, meets growing fuel demand and attracts foreign capital investment. Generating currency through export of finished products, conservation of foreign exchange and tremendous value addition will contribute to an increase in Nigeria’s gross domestic product.

“The House further notes that given the high demand by millions of Nigerians for PMS, and the ordeal they undergo to get it, NNPCL should allow independent marketers to source the product from the Dangote refinery,” he added to.

“If the prevailing monopoly is not nipped in the bud, Oforji noted that the suffering of Nigerians caused by the scarcity of PMS will continue with disastrous consequences for the economy and we all know the implications of that,” he noted.

In a bid to allay concerns, the House urged the management of the Dangote Refinery to build, acquire or collaborate with stakeholders on tank farms or depots in the country’s geopolitical zones, to ensure availability of oil for the population.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas has installed a panel chaired by House Leader Julius Ihonvbere to serve on a Senate joint committee to investigate the crisis plaguing the petroleum sector and make recommendations about the way forward.

Other members of the committee include Kelechi Nwogu (PDP, Rivers), Patrick Umoh (APC, Akwa Ibom), Sada Soli (APC, Katsina).