The ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry continue as Dangote Refinery has announced that it has not yet received the 26 million barrels of crude oil allocation that was reportedly facilitated by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

In a recent statement, Dangote Group’s spokesperson, Anthony Chiejina, responded to NUPRC’s claims that they had arranged the allocation during the first quarter of 2024. According to Chiejina, while the refinery appreciates the allocation, they have only received one shipment, which was arranged through direct negotiation with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Most of the crude oil processed by the refinery so far has been purchased from international traders.

Dangote Refinery also called on NUPRC to fully implement the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which allows Nigerian refineries to buy crude directly from local producers instead of relying on international intermediaries. The company emphasized that this is crucial for the growth and efficiency of the domestic refining industry.

This issue highlights ongoing tensions within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, especially as the industry adapts to recent government policies aimed at strengthening local refineries.