On Thursday, the 36 state governors opposed petrol imports by marketers, saying that it would be against the newly built Dangote Refinery.
After a meeting, the governors disclosed this in a communique, stating that the Lekki-based refinery could positively impact the Nigerian economy and create jobs.
The governors also asked the Nigerian government to speed up efforts to repair the nationâs four refineries.
The development comes from the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, who said the government was making about N700 billion from the crude-for-naira sale deal and the removal of petrol subsidies.
Meanwhile, the Dangote refinery debunked reports that it received payment from the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) for petrol lifting.
The refinery said it needs Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) clearance before selling petrol to marketers.
In the communique read by Imo State governor Hope Uzodimma, the Nigerian governors said the $20 billion refinery can supply products to the nation.
ThisDay reports that Uzodimma said the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) is committed to supporting President Bola Tinubu and protecting Nigerians’ interests.
The communique partly reads:
The Imo State governor said the NNPC group chief executive officer, Mele Kyari, had assured us that the long queues at the petrol stations would disappear soon.
The governorsâ moves came as petroleum products marketers explained why they had not purchased petrol from the Dangote Refinery.Â
The development followed a recent alarm by the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, over the alleged boycott of his refinery by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and marketers.
The Nigerian billionaire said that the persistent queues in several filling stations nationwide are caused by marketers and NNPC not patronising his refinery.
TimesNow.com.ng previously reported that Dangote Refinery has said it did not receive clearance from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to supply petrol to independent marketers.
The refinery announced this on Thursday, October 31, 2024, as members of the Independent Petroleum Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) asked the facility to release its petrol price.
TimesNow.com.ng reported that on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) president, Abubakar Maigandi, said his members had been to the refinery but could not lift petrol.
Proofread by Kola Muhammed, journalist and copyeditor at TimesNow.com.ng
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
