Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, (Oil) Senator Heineken Lopkobiri has denied stopping the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, from running its four refineries in the country and instead focus on equity participation in other refineries.
He said he could not have interfered in the day to day running of NNPCL since the organization is a corporate entity with its own management and board that take decisions on its behalf.
The Minister was reacting to a statement made Engr Kamoru Busari, a director of Upstream in the Petroleum Resources Ministry who represented him at an event.
In a statement personally signed by the minister, he said; “My attention has been drawn to statements made by Engr. Kamoru Busari, Director of Upstream in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, who represented me at a recent conference in Lagos.
“I wish to categorically state that the claim that I directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to stop running its own refineries and focus solely on equity participation in other refineries is false.
“This does not represent my position as Minister overseeing the oil sector, nor does it 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.”
The minister reaffirms government’s commitment to supporting the growth and independence of NNPCL, ensuring that its operations are in line with international standards for efficiency and transparency and profitability.