By kawaekwune Jeffrey
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged the federal government to tread carefully amidst the escalating dispute between the Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) over crude oil supply obligations.
In a series of posts on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday, Atiku highlighted the importance of ensuring the success of the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery, which is a critical project for Nigeria’s energy and foreign exchange needs.
Just as parents diligently prepare for the arrival of a child, we must ensure the proper nurturing of the Dangote Refinery,” Atiku remarked. “We must be cautious of any efforts that may hinder the progress of this significant private sector project, which holds great promise for our nation’s economic future.
Atiku called on Nigerians to support the refinery’s progress and to be vigilant against both internal and external factors that could undermine the project’s potential benefits.
The crude supply crisis at the Dangote Refinery intensified on recently when the Dangote Group accused the NUPRC of not adequately enforcing domestic crude supply obligations. The group alleged that despite commitments, the refinery had not received the crude oil supplies due.
In response, the NUPRC claimed it had facilitated the supply of over 29 million barrels of crude oil to the Dangote Refinery between January and June 2024. However, Dangote Refinery countered this assertion, stating that it had not received any such amount of crude.
The ongoing dispute has raised concerns about the impact on the refinery’s operations and the broader implications for Nigeria’s energy sector. As tensions rise, stakeholders are calling for swift resolution to prevent further escalation.
