The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and the Dangote Refinery to grant independent marketers access to lift fuel from the newly operational refinery.
This resolution followed a motion sponsored by Oboku Oforji, representing Yenagoa/Opokuma Federal Constituency, Bayelsa State, during a plenary session in Abuja on Thursday.
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Oforji expressed concerns that only major marketers currently have access to the refinery, potentially creating a monopoly. He warned that independent marketers might resort to fuel imports to sustain their businesses if not allowed access.
“The House is worried that NNPCL and major marketers as exclusive off-takers spell monopoly, which is equivalent to greed. This is the same NNPCL that has failed to manage our crude and refineries for decades,” Oforji said.
He further noted that such exclusivity would continue to exacerbate fuel scarcity and its economic consequences. “If this monopoly is not nipped in the bud, the suffering of Nigerians occasioned by the scarcity of PMS will continue,” he added.
The House commended Dangote Group for starting petroleum refining, recognizing it as a step toward Nigeria’s energy self-sufficiency. Oforji noted that the refinery, which began operations on September 15, 2024, could help drive down costs, conserve foreign exchange, and increase Nigeria’s GDP by meeting fuel demands and attracting foreign investments.
The House also urged Dangote Refinery to collaborate with stakeholders to establish tank farms or depots across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones to improve petroleum distribution.
Meanwhile, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas inaugurated a panel chaired by House Leader Julius Ihonvbere to work with the Senate in investigating the ongoing issues within the petroleum sector. Members of the panel include Kelechi Nwogu (PDP, Rivers), Patrick Umoh (APC, Akwa Ibom), and Sada Soli (APC, Katsina), among others.
