. ‘Director upstream lied,’ Full statement by Lokpobiri on NNPC refineries and private refineries equity participation + what-led-to-what report by Platforms Africa that got the minister to speak out
The report by Platforms Africa detailing a charge by ministry of petroleum resources for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to stop running its own refineries and focus solely on equity participation in other refineries has generated ripples with the director upstream at the ministry, Engineer Kamoru Busari, been queried and the minister disowning the claim.
Busari who represented the minister at the maiden Crude Oìl Refinery Owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) Summit in Lagos read in a prepared statement said to have been prepared by the minister who was “unavoidably absent” that the NNPCL should take equity in private refineries.
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“We urge the state oil company to take equity in the other upcoming refineries rather than running refineries,” he said, maintaining that the government has also detailed the modular refinery Committee to give concession to local bidders.
The report which was broken by Platforms Africa has, however generated a spontaneous reaction with the director who represented Lokpobiri queried while the minister labelled what his representative said as false.
“After the breaking story in Platforms Africa, the minister spontaneously disowned the statement after he received a call from the villa, and Engineer Kamoru was queried right while he was still in Lagos representing the minister at CORAN summit and summoned to Abuja to immediately come and explain where he saw what he said at the summit,” a source at ministry told Platforms Africa.
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Meanwhile, the minister has issued a statement disowning the statement and labelling it as “false.”
Here, below, is the full statement by the minister sent to Platforms Africa.
CLARIFICATION ON NNPCL REFINERY OPERATIONS
My attention has been drawn to statements made by Engr. Kamoru Busari, Director of Upstream in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, who represented me at a recent conference in Lagos. I wish to categorically state that the claim that I directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to stop running its own refineries and focus solely on equity participation in other refineries is false. This does not represent my position as Minister overseeing the oil sector, nor does it reflect the stance of the Federal Government.
It is important to clarify that NNPCL is a company governed under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), with a functional board and management. The Ministry of Petroleum Resources does not control or run NNPCL, as it operates independently like any corporate entity.
The oil and gas sector is fully deregulated, and the Nigerian government remains committed to promoting in-country refining. We encourage companies, including NNPCL, to operate independently, following global best practices. While we provide strategic guidance, we do not interfere directly in the operations of these companies.
I reaffirm our commitment to supporting the growth and independence of NNPCL, ensuring that its operations are in line with international standards for efficiency and transparency and profitability.
Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri Ph.D.
Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil)
Platforms Africa