By Aaior K. Comfort

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has denied claims that he directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to cease operating its own refineries. This follows reports that the minister allegedly asked the NNPCL to focus solely on equity participation in other refineries.

In a statement personally signed on Tuesday, Lokpobiri refuted the claims attributed to Engr. Kamoru Busari, Director of Upstream in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, who had represented him at a recent conference in Lagos. The minister clarified that no such directive was given and that the claim does not reflect his position or that of the Federal Government.

Lokpobiri emphasized that NNPCL, which operates under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), is an independent entity with its own management and board, and is not directly controlled by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. The Federal Government, he said, remains committed to promoting local refining and providing strategic guidance without interfering in the operational decisions of the NNPCL.

“The oil and gas sector is fully deregulated, and we encourage all companies, including NNPCL, to follow global best practices while ensuring transparency and profitability,” Lokpobiri added.