Nigeria's House of Representatives urges President Tinubu to suspend NMDPRA Chief Farouk Ahmed over controversial comments about Dangote Refinery's fuel quality. The dispute highlights concerns about fuel standards, environmental impact, and economic implications. An investigation is underway, with the Petroleum Minister mediating between regulators and industry players.
Nigeria’s House of Representatives has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). This recommendation follows Ahmed’s controversial comments about Dangote Refinery’s petroleum products, which have ignited a heated debate.
The motion for Ahmed’s suspension was introduced by Esosa Iyawe, an Edo lawmaker, who emphasized the critical impact of fuel quality on engine performance and environmental health. Iyawe explained that ultra-low sulfur diesel is essential for preventing engine damage and reducing air pollution, while high sulfur content in fuels is harmful to both machinery and human health, potentially leading to respiratory issues and cancer.
Ahmed’s remarks suggesting that Dangote Refinery’s products were substandard led to widespread outrage. Critics accused him of undermining local refineries and promoting fuel imports, which have been criticized for containing hazardous compounds. These comments, described as economic sabotage by some, have spurred the House Committee on Midstream and Downstream to launch an investigation into the dispute.
In response to the growing controversy, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, has intervened to mediate the conflict between the NMDPRA and Dangote Refinery. The situation has underscored tensions between regulatory authorities and major industry players, with potential implications for Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
