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Reps move to protect local refinery operations and investments.
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New bill to classify refineries as strategic national assets.
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Ugochinyere urges dialogue between labour unions and oil operators.
The House of Reps has unveiled plans to introduce a new law that will prioritise and protect local oil refineries across Nigeria, granting them the first right to crude oil supply before exports.
Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Hon Ikenga Ugochinyere, disclosed this on Monday during the Annual Downstream Week Summit 2025 in Abuja.
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According to him, the proposed Refinery Protection and Promotion Bill seeks to ensure refineries enjoy uninterrupted access to crude feedstock, receive priority protection from government policies, and operate under streamlined regulations to eliminate unnecessary bottlenecks.
He stated that the new legislative framework will classify refineries as strategic national assets, in line with Nigeria’s goal of strengthening energy independence and reducing reliance on imported petroleum products.
“We still face challenges, from feedstock shortages and pricing uncertainty to regulatory overlaps. To address these, the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) intends to pursue new legislative measures,” Ugochinyere said.
He explained that the bill will build on the Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligation (DCSO) policy enforced by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), which mandates producers to satisfy domestic refinery needs before exporting crude.
The lawmaker further highlighted that the initiative was essential to sustain investor confidence, create jobs, and stabilise Nigeria’s refinery operations.
“This is how nations grow—by empowering their local industries to produce, compete, and thrive, which aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of this administration,” he noted.
Addressing recent labour disputes between the Dangote Refinery and industry unions, Ugochinyere stressed the importance of dialogue in achieving industrial harmony, warning that no reform can succeed amid unrest.
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“Our shared goal must be to protect jobs, sustain businesses, and promote Nigeria’s economic sovereignty,” he said. “Compliance with tax, safety, and environmental standards is not optional—it is a patriotic duty and a mark of partnership in national development.”
Ugochinyere also commended key sector players including the NUPRC, NMDPRA, PETROAN, NOGASA, MEMAN, NARTO, IPMAN, and DAPPMAN for sustaining the country’s energy supply chain under challenging conditions.
He applauded ongoing reforms at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and cited significant industry investments such as the Indorama Petrochemical complex, Waltersmith Modular Refinery, OPAC Refinery, and the Dangote Refinery, describing the latter as Africa’s largest and a regional game-changer.
With over $13 billion in new upstream investments recorded in 2024 alone, the committee chairman said Nigeria’s energy sector was witnessing a strong resurgence of investor confidence.
“Our responsibility in government is to ensure this momentum is sustained through the right policies, legislative backing, and effective implementation,” Ugochinyere concluded.
