Nigeria’s House of Representatives is set to introduce a landmark bill that could hand Dangote Refinery and other local operators the first right of refusal on the nation’s crude oil allocations.
Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, dropped the hint on Monday at the inaugural Annual Downstream Week Summit 2025 held at the National Assembly in Abuja.
He said lawmakers are drafting a Refinery Protection and Promotion Bill that will classify refineries as “strategic national assets” entitled to top priority in crude supply, security, and operational support.
“The House Committee on Downstream Petroleum Resources fully supports this policy, which aligns with our legislative vision to prioritize domestic refining capacity, enhance supply security, and strengthen the naira through reduced import dependence,” Ugochinyere said.
He argued that the new framework will guarantee steady crude access for Nigerian refineries, protect investments, and encourage job creation while boosting energy independence.
The committee also hailed the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for enforcing the Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligation (DCSO), ensuring local refineries receive oil before exports.
Highlighting Nigeria’s growing refining capacity, Ugochinyere pointed to milestones like Indorama Petrochemicals’ expansion, Waltersmith Modular Refinery’s jump from 5,000 to 50,000 barrels daily, and the 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote Refinery finally coming on stream.
Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, who declared the summit open, described it as a “defining moment” for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and commended the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda for revitalising the downstream industry.
“The oil and gas industry, especially the downstream sector, is witnessing an unprecedented revival under the progressive leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Abbas said.
