By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Nigeria’s House of Representatives says it would call for the dismissal of the Group Chief Executive Officer of the country’s state-owned oil firm, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari.
The parliament accuses the NNPC chief of working against the smooth operation of the first private refinery in the West African country, Dangote Refinery, owned by the richest African, Aliko Dangote.
The parliamentarians also said they are backing the call for the sack of the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed.
“We have been seeing many demarketing campaigns to discredit the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, and given the negative impact of this, which has caused panic in the country.
“It is on record that the House directed the President to sack the NMDPRA’s CEO.
“The House of Representatives will not hesitate to call for the dismissal of Mele Kyari if the attempt to destroy the refinery project, a national asset, does not stop immediately,” the Deputy Spokesman of the House, Philip Agbese, told reporters on Saturday during a briefing at the nation’s capital, Abuja.
The NNPCL and the NMDPRA have demonstrated their intention to work against the Dangote Refinery, the spokesperson of the parliament said.
This comes on the heel of verbal exchange between Dangote refinery and Nigeria’s regulatory authorities.
The company has been accused of rolling out substandard products.
The leadership of the House of Representatives has also visited the refinery in Lagos State during an inspection tour. The lawmakers are now investigating the claims of inferior products from the refinery.
Following the clash, the House of Representatives called for the suspension of NMDPRA Chief Executive, Ahmed, over his “unguarded comments” about the quality of products from the Dangote Refinery.
Since the saga, several Nigerian businessmen and politicians have rallied behind the company, calling for support for entrepreneurs in the country.
Dangote Refinery has also alleged that the company has been denied stocks by the oil-rich country, instead preferring to export.
Dangote on the other hand is looking to get stock from neighbouring countries, including Libya, Angola and others.
