In protection of local industries and investors, the House of Representatives has ordered immediate investigation of international oil companies (IOCs) allegedly sabotaging the operations of Dangote refinery.
Having adopted a motion under matters of urgent National imports sponsored by Hon Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers) during plenary, the House also ordered the determination of the actual percentage holding of the Federal Government in Dangote Refinery.
Also matters of the inability of NNPC Ltd to subscribe for the 20 percent shares in Dangote Refinery and the lack of supply of crude oil to Dangote Refinery will also be investigated.
The Federal Government, the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission ( NUPRC), the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Agency (NMDRA), key stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians were also urged to support Dangote Refinery to have successful operation.
The Minister of Petroleum Resources and all relevant MDAs were directed by the House to immediately intervene in the matter of crude oil supply to Dangote Refinery.
The motion entitled: “Need to investigate alleged conspiracy by international oil companies (IOCs) to frustrate the operations and survival of Dangote Refinery and the actual percentage holding of the federal government in Dangote refinery,” Hon.Chinda who moved the motion told the House about the successful completion and coming into full operations of Dangote oil Refinery and Petrochemicals.
The lawmaker said: “Recently, the management of Dangote Refinery accused International oil companies (IOCs) operating in the country of conspiracy, and an attempt to frustrate the smooth operations of the refinery. Also aware that the alleged conspiracy against Dangote Refinery relates to efforts by the IOCs to deliberately frustrate the refinery’ to buy local crude oil by manipulating and jerking up the premium price above the market price, thus forcing the refinery to reduce output, as well as import oil at exorbitant cost from other countries.
“The management of Dangote Refinery said while the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) was trying its best to allocate crude to Dangote Refinery, the IOCs were deliberately frustrating Dangote Refinery’s effort to buy the local crude.
“The IOCs strategy/plan is capable of making Nigeria face higher rate of unemployment and poverty.
“There is an urgent need for the Federal Government, relevant MDAs, including the NUPRC and the MDPRA, key stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to support Dangote Refinery to succeed.
“Further worried that whilst the Federal Government of Nigeria subscribed 20% shares in Dangote Refinery, the Chairman (Aliko Dangote) claimed that Nigeria was unable to redeem its obligation and now owns 7.2% through NNPC LTD.
“There is an urgent need to look into these allegations by Dangote Refinery and end/break all forms of dominance and monopoly of the petroleum sector by the IOCs and confirm the quantum of Federal government interest in the refinery.”