By Aliyu Musa
‎‎The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has emphasised that forging strategic partnerships remains vital to unlocking value, achieving sustainability, and advancing commercialisation within the nation’s downstream petroleum sector.
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Group CEO, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, who was represented by the Executive Vice President, Downstream, Mr. Mumuni Dagazau, disclosed this in an address during the 2025 Inaugural Annual Downstream Petroleum Week, organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream).
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Describing Nigeria’s downstream landscape as one shaped by transition, opportunity, and strategic reform, Ojulari stressed the importance of collaboration as a yardstick to a sustainable energy future.
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He noted that Africa’s energy demand is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, with Nigeria at the forefront. This, he said, calls for coordinated efforts and collective responsibility to harness emerging opportunities and ensure inclusive, long-term sectoral growth.
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On the domestic front, he reaffirmed NNPC Ltd.’s commitment to ensuring consistent fuel availability, competitive pricing, and uncompromising quality assurance across all its retail networks nationwide.
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“The opportunity to create sustainable economy for today and the future is hinged on supply partnership, infrastructure co-investments, security partnerships, host community cooperation and operational alliances.

“Everyone needs to get involved in the activities that will ultimately create a sustainably promising future for Nigeria,” he said.

‎Ojulari also commended the National Assembly and the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) for convening the strategic forum, assuring that, as a commercial and national energy entity, NNPC Ltd. remains committed to fostering stakeholder engagement and advancing collaborative models for sector-wide growth.
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The event, held at the National Assembly Complex, with the theme “Celebrating Our Successes, Confronting Our Challenges, and Finding Solutions for the Petroleum Downstream Sector,” had in attendance downstream sector players and legislators.

By Saint Mugaga

The House of Representatives Wednesday urged oil and gas companies operating in Imo state to urgently comply with the provisions of Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content (NOGICD) Act 2010 regarding indigenous employment, contracts awards and establishment of operational offices.

The companies are: Seplat Energy Plc: – OML 53, Niger Delta Petroleum Resources (NDPR): – OML 54, Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Co. Ltd. (SEEPCO), WalterSmith Petroman Oil Limited: – OML 16 and Associate Oil & Gas Limited/Dansaki Petroleum Limited (A Consortium): Umuseti/Igwe marginal field.

The rest are Chorus Energy Limited (Formerly Shell Portfolio), TotalEnergies / NNPC Joint Venture and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited.

This followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Chike Okafor (APC, Imo) titled “Flagrant abuse of due process and infringement of local content, disobedience to Petroleum Industry Act and non compliance with tax laws by oil and gas companies operating on Imo state at the plenary presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.

In adopting the motion, the House asked the companies to grant unfettered access to officials of the Imo State Internal Revenue Service for the performance of their lawful duties.

The House also mandated the Committee on Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring to invite the Chief Executives of the seven (7) concerned Oil Companies, the Chief Executives of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Chairman of Imo State Internal Revenue Service for questioning.

It also mandated the Committees on Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring, Corporate Social Responsibility, Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Finance, and Justice to investigate the specific allegations of violations of the NOGICD Act 2010, PIA 2021, and Taxes and Levies Act by all Oil and Gas Companies operating in Imo State and the status of implementation of the Host Community Development Trusts in Imo State and report within four (4) legislative weeks.

While presenting the motion, Hon. Okafor noted that the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010 was enacted to promote the utilisation of Nigerian human and material resources, and the participation of Nigerian companies in the oil and gas industry.

He also noted that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021 provides a robust legal and regulatory framework for the Nigerian petroleum industry, including specific provisions for host community development, environmental management, and equitable benefit sharing.

“Aware that the Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Act, authorizes State Governments to collect certain taxes and levies from businesses operating within their territories, which is crucial for funding state infrastructure and social services;

“Further notes that several International and Indigenous Oil Companies (IOCs) operating oil and gas fields within the oil-producing communities of Imo State, notably in Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta and other LGAs as hosts, namely:

“Also Aware of persistent outcry and allegations from host communities and state Government regarding the: failure to establish functional operational offices within their areas of operation in Imo State as mandated by Section 3(j) of the NOGICD Act, 2010, thereby denying the state, valuable economic activity and employment;

“Systematic failure of these companies to prioritise the employment of qualified indigenes of Imo State, in direct violation of Sections 11, 28, and 35 of the NOGICD Act, 2010; refusal to award contracts to competent Nigerian companies, especially those from the host communities, for goods and services.

“Obstruction of lawful efforts by the Imo State Government and Imo State Internal Revenue Service (IIRS) to access their premises for assessment and collection of legally approved state taxes and levies.

“Non-compliance with the Host Communities Development Trust provisions under Chapter 3 of the PIA, 2021, leading to a lack of tangible benefits and development in these communities.

“Concerned that these acts of non-compliance have led to immense frustration, widespread agitations, and a palpable threat of social unrest within the host communities.

“Also concerned that the continued neglect and infringement of these laws, if not urgently addressed, may lead to violent protests that could threaten national security, destruction of critical oil and gas infrastructure, disrupting production and harming the national economy and a breakdown of law and order in the oil-producing regions of Imo State”.

The House of Representatives is to investigate the circumstances surrounding the abandoned $35 million modular refinery project in Brass, Bayelsa State, despite huge financial commitments made four years ago to the initiative.

The decision followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Billy Osawaru at Wednesday’s plenary.

In his motion titled “Need to Investigate the Abandoned $35 Million Modular Refinery Project in Brass, Bayelsa State, Four Years After Huge Financial Commitments to That Effect,” Osawaru expressed concern that the project, funded by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), has remained moribund with no visible progress since its inception.

The lawmaker noted that in 2020, the NCDMB invested the sum of $35 million (over ₦50 billion) in Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited a modular refinery proposed to be sited in Brass, Bayelsa State as part of efforts to boost indigenous refining capacity and reduce pressure on Nigeria’s foreign exchange.

“Despite this huge investment of $35 million dollars which is more than N50 billion and enough to fund fundamental components of the national budget, the proposed modular refinery that was to be known as Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited was never setup. Nothing is on ground to show that huge financial commitments had been made.

“This honorable House had initiated a patriotic love to unravel the mystery behind this wastage by mandating the relevant committee to investigate this monumental economic sabotage; and that despite this, nothing has been heard in respect of the subject matter”.

Osawaru recalled that the House had earlier mandated relevant committees to investigate the issue but said no update had been received, adding that a petition was also submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in May 2024 seeking a probe into NCDMB’s multi-million dollar investments, including the Brass refinery project — yet no action has been taken.

“In May 2024, a stakeholder submitted a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) urging the anti-graft organisation to probe the multi-million dollar investments made by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) among which was the Atlantic Refinery project; and that despite this noble move by the said stakeholder, nothing has been heard about this profound national waste almost a year ago”.

He lamented, however, that despite the massive investment, “Nothing is on ground to show that such a huge financial commitment was ever made.

“The continued inactivity of the Brass modular refinery project raises significant questions about the management of public funds and the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms in Nigeria,” he said.

The lawmaker emphasized that the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda identifies indigenous refining as a key driver of energy independence, job creation, and industrial revitalisation. He stressed that the failure of such a major investment undermines national goals for energy security and economic sustainability.

Adopting the motion, the House resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the $35 million investment in the abandoned modular refinery and report back within four weeks.

The investigation, lawmakers said, would help unravel the reasons behind the non-execution of the project and ensure accountability in the management of public funds meant for national development.