The Federal Government has moved to calm fears of a looming fuel crisis, assuring Nigerians that there will be no disruption in the supply of refined petroleum products.
In a statement released on Sunday by the Ministry of Finance, the Steering Committee on the Domestic Crude Oil and Refined Products Sales in Local Currency Initiative confirmed that issues surrounding the Dangote Refinery’s suspension of naira-based petrol sales had been “amicably resolved.”
Chaired by Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, the committee reaffirmed the continuity of the crude-for-naira arrangement, stressing that energy security remains a national priority.
“The crude oil for naira initiative will continue. All outstanding issues, including the dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote Refinery, are being urgently addressed in good faith,” the statement noted.
The meeting was attended by top government officials, including the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; FIRS Chairman, Zacch Adedeji; representatives of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, the NNPC Limited, the Central Bank of Nigeria, Afreximbank, and Dangote Refinery executives.
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The government insisted that Nigerians should not expect fuel scarcity or price instability.
“The Federal Government remains fully committed to ensuring energy security, protecting consumers, and maintaining stability in the domestic petroleum products market,” it added.
Dangote Refinery, in a follow-up memo to marketers on Saturday, confirmed it had resumed naira sales of petrol following the intervention of the technical committee.
Marketers were advised to place orders for both self-collection and delivery across designated depots.
The crisis had escalated after the refinery announced plans to suspend naira sales from September 28 due to exhausted allocations, while PENGASSAN threatened nationwide strikes over the alleged dismissal of more than 800 Nigerian workers and their replacement with foreign staff.
Union leaders had directed members to down tools from Sunday, but with the government’s intervention, the strike action may be suspended as negotiations continue.
