The House of Representatives joint committee on petroleum has summoned Dangote and NMDPRA Boss, order cessation of hostilities
The House of Representatives joint committee on petroleum resources (downstream and midstream) has stepped in to stop rising tensions within Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.
This follows public allegations and counter-claims between the Dangote Refinery group leadership and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The committees, led by Rep. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and Rep. Henry Okogie, convened an emergency meeting in response to what they described as a “growing tension” capable of destabilizing the fragile calm recently achieved in the sector.
The meeting came amid concerns raised by various stakeholders.
Speaking on the intervention, Rep. Ugochinyere said the committees were compelled to act swiftly to prevent any further escalation, particularly at a time when government and industry players are working hard to stabilize supply, pricing, and regulation in the post-subsidy era.
“The key issue that necessitated this emergency meeting was the growing tension that has returned to the downstream sector as a result of concerns and allegations raised by Alhaji Aliko Dangote against the NMDPRA,” Rep. Ugochinyere said.
He added, “This is coming at a time when the committee is jealously guarding the stability that has been achieved in the sector.”
The committee resolved to formally invite both the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and the leadership of the NMDPRA to appear before it. The aim is to hear detailed explanations regarding the issues fueling the dispute, enabling the committees to make the necessary decisions and resolutions to resolve the matter.
“We can only find sustainable solutions when we identify the critical issues leading to this tension. That is why the committee resolved to write to Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the NMDPRA chief to meet with us and give insights into what is driving these allegations and counter-allegations,” he explained.
In a firm effort to calm nerves, the committee appealed to both parties to halt all public exchanges and media comments pending the outcome of the investigation.
“We resolved to plead with the contending parties to cease fire, especially media comments, so that the situation does not escalate further,” Rep. Ugochinyere noted.
“The committee has the capacity to wade into this matter and find solutions once and for all.”
Ugochinyere further revealed that the committee has received petitions touching on critical industry issues, including the issuance of import licenses and concerns over whether domestic refineries have the capacity to meet Nigeria’s daily petroleum demands.
“These are serious issues. Some relate to import licences, others to whether local refineries can produce enough to satisfy national demand which the investigation being undertaken by the committee will resolve,” he said.
He stressed that all outstanding matters would be thoroughly examined when key stakeholders in the refining and regulatory sectors appear before the committee.
“By the time Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the NMDPRA and other stakeholders meet with the committee, we will get the real gist of what is happening and come up with resolutions that provide sustainable solutions for the sector,” he assured.
Reiterating the committee’s call, Ugochinyere urged all parties to suspend further accusations while the House works toward resolving the dispute in the national interest.
“We are pleading with them to cease further attacks on each other, whether from the regulatory agency or the refining community, while the committee sorts out these issues,” he said.
Ugochinyere noted that the decisions announced reflect the unanimous outcome of the committee’s closed-door deliberations, a position fully supported by his colleagues.
The intervention comes amid heightened public scrutiny of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum industry, as expectations remain high around local refining capacity, regulatory clarity, and stable fuel supply.
Tension between Dangote-NMDPRA
Aliko Dangote accused NMDPRA CEO Farouk Ahmed of corruption and economic sabotage during a press conference on December 14, 2025, at the Dangote Refinery in Lekki, Lagos.
Dangote claimed Ahmed spent $5 million on six years of secondary school fees for four children in Switzerland, calling it inconsistent with a public servant’s income and demanding a Code of Conduct Bureau probe. He contrasted this with Nigerians struggling to pay ₦100,000 local school fees and threatened to sue Swiss schools for payment records if denied.
Dangote alleged NMDPRA colludes with international oil traders by issuing import licenses for 7.5 billion liters of PMS in Q1 2026, despite local refining capacity, harming modular refineries and domestic production. He argued regulators should separate from commercial interests, as 47 licenses were issued without new refineries emerging.
