The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri has protested over a statement ascribed to him by Engr. Kamoru Busari, Director of Upstream in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, who represented him at a recent conference in Lagos.
In a statement today, October 8, the Minister said that the claim by his representative at the occasion that he 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.”
Senator Lokpobiri said that the government is committed to, and would support the growth and independence of NNPCL, to ensure that its operations are in line with international standards for efficiency and transparency and profitability.
