The Federal Government has restated its commitment to ensuring uninterrupted supply of refined petroleum products across the country.
A statement by Mohammed Manga, Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Finance, said the Steering Committee of the Domestic Crude Oil and Refined Products Sales in Local Currency Initiative met on Sunday to review developments in the downstream oil sector.
According to the statement, Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, clarified that concerns over the purported suspension of the naira-for-crude arrangement by the Dangote Refinery had been amicably resolved.
Edun, who chaired the committee meeting, assured that the crude-for-naira initiative would continue, adding that outstanding issues, particularly the dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Dangote Refinery, were being urgently addressed in good faith.
He stressed that government remained committed to energy security, consumer protection, and stability in the domestic petroleum products market.
Those present at the meeting included the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr Zacch Adedeji, who also heads the technical committee, as well as representatives of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NNPC Ltd., the Central Bank of Nigeria, Afreximbank and Dangote Refinery.
PENGASSAN had earlier announced a nationwide strike to begin on Sept. 29, alleging that Dangote Refinery dismissed workers who joined the union, withdrew staff buses, and restricted access to locals while granting entry to expatriates.
The union also threatened to picket the refinery if its demands were not met.
Dangote Refinery, however, insisted its restructuring was necessary following alleged sabotage in different units of the facility, which it said posed serious risks to human lives and operations.
(NAN)