By Ken Chiwendu
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has officially ended its importation of refined petroleum products, according to NNPC’s Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari. Kyari stated that the decision marks a significant milestone for the corporation as part of its efforts to ensure self-sufficiency in petroleum production.
The move aims to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported refined products and strengthen the country’s domestic refining capacity.
Nigeria began importing fuel for its domestic market in 1971. This was through a Joint Venture ( JV) agreement between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC) and Multinational Oil Corporations ( MNOCs)
Since then Nigeria,an oil producing country has relied on imported fuel due to non – functional local refineries .
However, with the birth of Dangote Refinery- the world’s largest and after months of foot dragging,Kyari said that the NNPCL having finalised agreement with the Dangote Refinery would get its supplies from there henceforth to ensure availability of the product and encourage domestic refining.
