Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri has clarified his position on the operations of refineries in the country, saying he never directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited NNPCL to stop running its own refineries and focus solely on equity participation in other refineries.

In a statement he personally signed and made available to our Correspondent, the Minister insists that the NNPCL is a company governed under the Companies and Allied Matters Act CAMA, with a functional board and management and therefore neither run controlled by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

He further argued that the oil and gas sector in the country is fully deregulated even as the Federal Government is totally committed to refining petroleum products in the country rather than importation.

The statement reads in part: “My attention has been drawn to statements made by the Director of Upstream in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Engr. Kamoru Busari, who represented me at a recent conference in Lagos. I wish to categorically state that the claim that I directed the 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.

“I reaffirm our 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.”