Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, has clarified his position on the issue of running the country’s refineries by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), saying there was never a time he said the company should step aside from the role.
The minister in a statement, disowned comments by Engr. Kamoru Busari, Director of Upstream in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, who represented him at a recent conference in Lagos, where he said the minister had directed that the NNPC, rather than running refineries, should focus solely on equity participation in other refineries.
Lokpobiri said the statement attributed to him was false and did not represent his position as Minister overseeing the oil sector, nor 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,” he stated.
He reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to supporting the growth and independence of NNPC, ensuring that its operations are in line with international standards for efficiency and transparency and profitability.
