Heineken Lokpobiri, the minister of state for petroleum resources (oil), has denied directing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to stop operating its refineries and focus exclusively on equity participation in other refineries.
In a statement on Tuesday, Lokpobiri clarified that the statement was made by Kamoru Busari, the director of upstream in the ministry of petroleum resources, who represented him at a recent conference in Lagos.
Speaking on the matter, Lokpobiri labeled the claim as “false”.
“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,” Lokpobiri said.
“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.”
Lokpobiri emphasized that this does not reflect his position as the minister responsible for the oil sector, nor does it represent 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,” he said.
He added that the ministry of petroleum resources does not control or manage NNPC, as the company operates independently, similar to other corporate entities.
“The oil and gas sector is fully deregulated, and the Nigerian government remains committed to promoting in-country refining,” Lokpobiri said.
“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.”
Lokpobiri reiterated his commitment to supporting NNPC’s growth and independence, ensuring that its operations align with international standards for efficiency, transparency, and profitability.
