The Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP and over 75 civil society organizations under the umbrella of the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs) state unequivocally that the ongoing rift between the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Dangote Refinery has laid bare the fundamental weakness and compromise of National Assembly oversight in Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum sectors.
In a statement by the groups signed by by Comrade James Ezema, Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and Alhaji Ali Abacha, National Secretary,
Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs), they said, “This dispute is not merely a regulatory disagreement. It is a symptom of years of selective oversight, policy inconsistency and silent accommodation of vested import interests, which have collectively undermined fuel quality, consumer protection and Nigeria’s quest for energy self-reliance”.
“For years, the National Assembly has conducted hearings and investigations into fuel scarcity, pricing and regulation. Yet, these interventions have failed to dismantle a system that favours the continued importation of refined petroleum products, particularly automotive and heavy-duty fuels, many of which do not meet acceptable sulphur limits.”
“There has been no sustained legislative push to end the importation of substandard fuels, despite clear evidence of the damage such products cause to vehicles, engines and emissions systems, with severe long-term environmental and public health consequences. Oversight has remained largely reactive, episodic and without consequences, creating room for regulatory compromise.”
“The persistent narrative that imported refined petroleum products are cheaper than locally refined alternatives is misleading and economically dishonest. These so-called cheaper fuels impose hidden costs on Nigerians through frequent vehicle breakdowns, higher maintenance expenses, increased emissions and environmental degradation.”
“This narrative survives only because quality enforcement has been weak, allowing substandard products to enter the Nigerian market under the cover of price competitiveness.”
ECOWAS STANDARDS MUST APPLY — WITHOUT DOUBLE STANDARDS
The CNPP and CNCSOs insist that Nigeria must fully enforce the ECOWAS fuel quality standards, particularly the sulphur (PPM) limits stipulated in the ECOWAS directive documents.
We call on the NMDPRA to ensure that:
All imported refined petroleum products meet ECOWAS sulphur specifications without waivers or regulatory discretion;
All locally refined petroleum products, including those from Dangote Refinery and other domestic refineries, comply with the same ECOWAS sulphur PPM standards as the January 1, 2026 implementation date for locally refined products approaches;
The same level of regulatory scrutiny and National Assembly oversight applied to imported products is extended to locally refined fuels.
NO MONOPOLY, NO DIRTY FUELS
We make it clear that Dangote Refinery must not be promoted or protected as a monopoly. Competition in the downstream petroleum sector is essential. However, opposition to monopoly must not be used as an excuse to tolerate dirty fuels or compromised regulation.
A fair and competitive market can only exist where quality standards are uniform and enforcement is consistent, regardless of whether products are imported or locally refined.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MUST MOVE FROM HEARINGS TO CONSEQUENCES
The National Assembly must recognise that oversight without enforcement has failed Nigerians. Investigations that end in reports, without sanctions or systemic reform, only entrench impunity.
We therefore call on the National Assembly to:
End oversight practices that implicitly favour fuel importation;
Enforce regulatory compliance through budgetary and legal consequences;
Publicly track fuel quality enforcement outcomes;
Ensure that January 1, 2026 marks a decisive end to substandard fuels in Nigeria.
CONCLUSION
The NMDPRA–Dangote dispute should serve as a turning point, not another missed opportunity. Nigeria must choose between a future of regulatory compromise and one of clear standards, firm enforcement and consumer protection.”
“From January 1, 2026, there must be one standard, one rule and one level of enforcement for all refined petroleum products in Nigeria, in full compliance with ECOWAS directives.”
“Anything less will confirm that Nigeria’s petroleum oversight framework remains weak, compromised and tilted in favour of short-term import interests, to the detriment of citizens, industry sustainability and national development.”