The Muslim Rights Concern has called on the government to ensure an adequate supply of crude oil to local refineries to encourage energy self-sustainability in Nigeria.
The group also applauded the Federal Government for suspending petrol imports into the country following what it described as a noticeable boost in local production.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, an agency of the Federal Government, had announced the suspension of petrol imports into the country, saying the country now has enough local production.
Reacting to the development, MURIC commended the government for the decision.
In a statement on Thursday, the Executive Director of MURIC, Ishaq Akintola, said, “This is a commendable step. Local production has received additional oxygen with this new policy. It is forthright and nationalistic. But as we hail FG for widening the market for local refineries and blocking the likelihood of saturation through excessive and unnecessary inflow of petroleum products, we must at the same time remind the government to enable full and effective operation in the local refineries by supplying them with 100 per cent crude oil,” he said.
Akintola said it is wrong that the Dangote refinery is getting only 32 per cent of the crude needed to operate the 650,000-barrel facility in Lekki, Lagos, asking Tinubu to issue an executive order to that effect.
“It stands logic on its head if, in spite of decades of suffering from fuel scarcity, a refinery like Dangote emerges but still cannot get a 100 per cent crude oil supply. Reports of the supply of only 28 per cent to 32 per cent of the crude oil required by the Dangote refinery are not only disturbing but also nauseating. This is where nationalistic proclivities should come in.
“We therefore urge President Bola Tinubu to issue an executive order for the supply of 100 per cent crude oil required by local refineries,” he said.
Akintola commended the Federal Government for the release of 100,000 compressed natural gas kits for the conversion of petrol-powered buses to cushion the effect of the current fuel price surge.
“However, this policy needs to be complemented by an executive order that 100 per cent crude be supplied to local refineries, especially at this critical time.
“We cannot expect a humongous refinery like Dangote, which has to go to traders and middlemen to buy more than 72 per cent of the crude oil required by it, to avoid factoring this unnecessary overhead into its price policy.
“FG has the capacity to make life easier for Nigerians by making a 100 per cent crude oil supply its cardinal policy. Nigerians will hail Mr President if he could issue an executive order today to kick-start this policy.”
The Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, Saidu Mohammed, has warned against attempts to push Nigeria back into an era of heavy petrol importation, saying the country must sustain the gains made in domestic refining.
Mohammed confirmed PUNCH Online’s exclusive report that Nigeria did not issue a single licence for the importation of petrol this year, as part of efforts to strengthen local refining capacity.
He made this known on Tuesday while receiving a delegation from PUNCH Nigeria Limited at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja during a courtesy visit aimed at strengthening strategic partnerships between the media organisation and key institutions in the energy sector.
Speaking during the meeting, Mohammed said some interests were still pushing for the continuation of large-scale fuel importation despite the country’s progress in boosting domestic refining capacity, but there is no need for that anymore
PUNCH.
