The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that there will be no disruption in the supply of refined petroleum products across the country, despite recent concerns surrounding the Dangote Refinery and the Naira-for-crude oil arrangement.

This was the key outcome of the meeting of the Steering Committee on Domestic Crude Oil and Refined Products Sales in Local Currency, chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, in Abuja over the weekend. .

The committee, which reviewed developments in the downstream oil sector, noted two recent issues: the purported suspension of the Naira-for-crude oil deal by Dangote Refinery, since amicably resolved, and the labour dispute raised by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) against the refinery.

According to a statement issued by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Finance, Muhammed Manga, the meeting was attended the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, who also chairs the technical committee; representatives of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA); Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd.; Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Afreximbank; and the Dangote Refinery.

?For the avoidance of doubt, the committee reassured that the crude oil for the Naira initiative will continue.

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?It also assured that all outstanding issues, particularly the dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Dangote Refinery, are being addressed with urgency and in good faith.

The federal government remains fully committed to ensuring energy security, protecting consumers, and maintaining stability in the domestic petroleum products market,? added. (The Sun)

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