The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has clarified that he did not instruct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to cease operations at its refineries.
Reacting to a recent report suggesting that Engr. Kamoru Busari, the Director of Upstream in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, who represented Lokpobiri at a conference in Lagos, had claimed that the minister directed NNPCL to concentrate solely on equity participation in other refineries, the junior oil minister said: “I want to address the comments made by Engr. Kamoru Busari during the recent event in Lagos, where he represented me. It is crucial for me to make it absolutely clear that the assertion claiming I instructed NNPCL to halt the operation of its own refineries and focus exclusively on equity participation in other refineries is completely inaccurate. This statement does not align with my views as the Minister responsible for overseeing the oil sector, nor does it reflect the official position of the Federal Government.”
He emphasized the autonomy of NNPCL, explaining: “It is essential to recognize that NNPCL operates as a company under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), with its own functioning board and management team. The Ministry of Petroleum Resources does not have the authority to control or manage NNPCL, as it functions independently, similar to any other corporate entity.”
Furthermore, he highlighted the state of the oil and gas sector in Nigeria, stating, “The sector is entirely deregulated, and the Nigerian government is dedicated to promoting domestic refining initiatives. We encourage companies, including NNPCL, to operate independently while adhering to global best practices. While we provide strategic guidance, we do not intervene directly in the operational aspects of these companies.”
In conclusion, Minister Lokpobiri reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering the growth and autonomy of NNPCL, ensuring that its operations are aligned with international standards of efficiency, transparency, and profitability.
