Local refinery operators have accused the federal government of mistreating them and favouring oil importation.
The accusation is in response to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA Chief Executive Officer, Ahmed Farouk’s claim that diesels produced by some local refineries including Dangote refinery are substandard.
Farouk also said among others that the government would continue to import fuel.
Reacting, the operators, under the aegis of the Crude Oil Refiners Association of Nigeria, censured the NMDPRA boss saying government is unfair to local refineries.
“In the last few days, we have had a barrage of misinformation thrown at the indigenous refineries, including Dangote, Aradel, Waltersmith, and our other members, from detractors and elements working against the country’s quest to achieve self-sufficiency in domestic petroleum refining. This is not completely surprising to us as we know the agenda to keep the country perpetually dependent on foreign oil merchants, and the desire to continue to pilfer the wealth of the country by a few greedy individuals is deep.
“It is, however, surprising, and we are indeed dismayed, that a person meant to regulate a sector appears to be taking a position against players in the industry he is supposed to be regulating and is misstating the facts,” the association’s Publicity Secretary, Eche Idoko, told Punchng.
