A coalition of Civil Society Organisations has said it will closely monitor the compliance of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited in its crude oil sales to the Dangote Refinery.
Solomon Adodo of Rise Up for A United Nigeria, made this known in a statement on Monday, on behalf of the 28 CSOs.
He said the decision to monitor the sales was borne out of the need to ensure transparency and adherence to regulatory standards in the dealings between the state oil company and the privately-owned refinery.
He lamented government’s apparent reluctance to support the local refinery, despite its potential to alleviate the nation’s fuel crisis and foreign exchange challenges.
The coalition also accused the NNPCL of disregarding President Bola Tinubu’s directive to sell crude oil to the Dangote Refinery in Naira and vowed to intensify advocacy efforts to compel the government to prioritise the Dangote Refinery and ensure its smooth operation.
“Having gone round to see this world-class project, we are at a loss as to why the government could decide to turn against Nigerians in this manner. We are ready to defend this facility with everything as civil society organisations,” they said.
The Vice President of Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, echoed the CSOs’ concerns, highlighting the refinery’s potential to transform Nigeria’s economy.
Edwin said in spite the challenges, the Dangote Refinery remains committed to its vision of transforming Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
