MPs call on FG to suspend NMDPRA CEO over ‘reckless comments’ on Dangote refinery

The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to suspend Farouk Ahmed, the Chairman of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), for “thoughtless comments”.

The Lower House of the Legislative Assembly passed the resolution during plenary sitting on Tuesday following the adoption of a motion of urgent public interest sponsored by Esosa Iyawe of Edo.

The motion was titled “Urgent need to address outrage over ill-advised comments by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority”.

A recent legal dispute has arisen between the NMDPRA and the Dangote Refinery.

At July 18, Ahmed said local refineries, including the Dangote Oil Refineryproduced inferior products compared to those imported into the country.

He also said Dangote demanded All imports of petroleum products – especially diesel fuel (AGO) or kerosene – should be suspended or stopped, and all oil traders should be redirected to its refinery.

This is neither good for Nigeria in terms of energy security, Ahmed said, nor is it good for the markets as it creates a monopoly position.

Aliko Dangote, CEO of the Dangote Group, denied Ahmed’s claims.

On Monday, Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), met with Dangote, Ahmed, Gbenga Komolafe, CEO of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and Mele Kyari, Group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited, clarify the matter.

The House of Representatives Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream and Midstream) has also started an investigation into Ahmed’s allegations.

The committee is also investigating allegations that international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria thwart survival the Dangote refinery.

“Careless statement, unprofessional”

Move the movement, Iyawe described Ahmed’s statement as “careless” and “unprofessional and unpatriotic” in view of the calls for protests against the federal government.

Iyawe said Ahmed made the statement without first conducting an investigation.

The MP said the NMDPRA CEO’s “careless statement” had “sparked outrage among Nigerians, who described his undermining of local refineries and his insistence on continued importation of fuel as an act of economic sabotage, as the imported products were proven to contain high concentrations of dangerous compounds.”

The motion was passed when it was presented for a majority vote by Speaker of the House Tajudeen Abbas.

As a result, the House of Commons called on the federal government to suspend the CEO of NMDPRA pending the completion of investigations into the allegations.