The Federal Government announced on Tuesday that there has been no importation of dirty fuel into Nigeria, countering recent statements from an official of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
During a meeting in Abuja with oil marketers and local crude oil refiners, the government discussed refined product pricing, competition, and the importation of products also produced domestically.
Oil marketers at the meeting acknowledged that while local refineries were producing some refined products, this would not prevent them from sourcing products elsewhere.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) addressed the allegations of dirty fuel importation, stating that high-sulphur content fuels were last imported in February and the issue had been resolved.
Ogbugo Ukoha, Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure at NMDPRA, stated, “There is no dirty fuel being brought into Nigeria,” when responding to the allegations by a senior Dangote refinery official.
On Monday, Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, accused the NMDPRA of issuing licenses indiscriminately to marketers importing high-sulphur diesel from Russia, despite Dangote’s compliance with ECOWAS regulations.
Edwin claimed that traders were importing and dumping high-sulphur diesel in Nigeria, with some European countries banning such fuel exports to West Africa due to its carcinogenic effects.
The Federal Government’s agency, however, insisted that it follows all necessary procedures to prevent the importation of dirty fuels and that Nigerian refineries are also ensuring their products meet ECOWAS standards.
Ukoha highlighted that ECOWAS heads of state adopted a fuel roadmap in 2020, requiring a maximum of 50 parts per million (ppm) sulphur content for imports, with local refiners given until December 31, 2024, to comply.
He noted that the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021 supports these standards and that NMDPRA has been enforcing compliance, resulting in sulphur content in imported diesel averaging below 50ppm since February.
Ukoha reassured Nigerians that local refineries are also working to reduce sulphur content and that NMDPRA is committed to ensuring only quality petroleum products are consumed in Nigeria.
In response to claims of indiscriminate fuel importation licenses leading to dirty fuel, Ukoha reiterated, “There is no dirty fuel being brought in,” and provided data showing a decrease in sulphur content in imported fuels.
He added that local refiners are preparing to meet the required sulphur standards by the end of the year, ensuring the health and wellbeing of Nigerians.
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