The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of insincerity over what it described as the continued issuance of petrol import licences despite assurances that the practice had been halted.
The group warned that the policy could undermine the growth of local refineries and negatively impact Nigeria’s economy.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Executive Director of MURIC, Ishaq Akintola, alleged that the regulatory authority was still granting licences for the importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) even after suggesting that local production had met domestic demand.
Akintola said the development contradicts earlier assurances by NMDPRA and raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the country’s petroleum sector.
“We frown upon such a policy. It is dishonest and calculated to mislead the public,” he said, adding that the continued issuance of import licences could slow the growth of domestic refineries and worsen challenges such as fuel scarcity, high petrol prices, a weaker naira and rising inflation.
The group noted that reports indicated that at least six companies were still importing PMS despite the regulatory body’s earlier position that local refining capacity was sufficient to meet national demand.
According to MURIC, the situation could also negatively affect the ease of doing business for local refineries and ultimately lead to higher costs of goods and services for consumers.
The organisation further argued that Nigeria currently has sufficient refining capacity, citing the operations of the Dangote Refinery, which it said can produce about 75 million litres of petrol, 25 million litres of diesel and 20 million litres of jet fuel daily.
Akintola pointed out that the country’s daily petrol consumption was recently put at about 56.9 million litres, questioning the rationale behind allowing additional fuel importation.
He also warned that continued importation of petrol could place unnecessary pressure on Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves.
MURIC maintained that domestic refineries should be prioritised in crude oil allocation in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, which stipulates that import licences should only be issued to bridge gaps between local refining capacity and national demand.
The group therefore called on NMDPRA to be transparent about its licensing decisions and ensure that policies support the growth of Nigeria’s local refining industry.
