MURIC Criticises NMDPRA For Issuing Import Licences

‎‎A human rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has accused the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of insincerity.

‎‎The group’s executive director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, in a statement on Saturday, alleged that NMDPRA continues to issue import licences despite assurances to the contrary.

It argued that such a policy would retard the growth of local refineries, it also described the practice as unpatriotic and self-seeking.

According to MURIC, contrary to the position held by our organization two days ago, the true picture emerging from the Nigerian petroleum architecture indicates that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) was still issuing import licences despite assurances to the contrary.

‎‎”We frown upon such a policy. It is dishonest. It is calculated to mislead the public. But most importantly, it is capable of retarding the growth of local refineries with the attendant backlash on the citizenry in terms of petrol scarcity, high cost of fuel, fall in the value of naira as well as galloping inflation.

‎‎”Whereas NMDPRA gave Nigerians the impression that it had put an end to the importation of PMS, it has been revealed that at least six companies are still importing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) as we speak.

“This revelation negates the principles of transparency, probity and accountability. Nigerians should not be denied the right to know what is happening to their common patrimony.

“This action is also capable of affecting the ease of doing petroleum business for local refineries. The overall effect also cascades down to the consumers and tax payers because as a common denominator, the prices of goods are bound to skyrocket when the price of petrol rises.

‎‎”It is an open secret that as at January 2026, Dangote Refinery has the capacity to supply 75 million litres of petrol, 25 million litres of diesel, and 20 million litres of jet fuel daily.

‎‎”Now, NMDPRA confirmed last month (February 2026) that Nigeria’s daily petrol consumption is only 56.9 million litres per day, what, then, is the rationale for seeking additional importation of fuel?

‎‎”These ‘special importers’ constitute an existential drain on Nigeria’s scarce foreign exchange. Or are they paying in naira abroad? We seriously doubt this. What kind of injurious favouritism is this? We may not all be economists but Nigerians are not nincompoops.

‎‎”Imagine the great economic value Dangote Refinery has proved since inception. Our local currency started climbing up soon after Dangote Refinery began operation. The refinery has been exporting petroleum products to both Western and African countries and this explains the inflow of hard currency.

“Subsequently, naira came out of the intensive care unit and inflation began to drop. Inflation fell from 15.10 per cent in January 2026, to 13.47 per cent in February 2026. This was in the same Nigeria whose inflation rate was 34.6 per cent in November 2024.

“Things began to change drastically as soon as the Dangote Refinery began to export oil and the importation of fuel reduced immensely.

“If honour must be given to whom it is due, then Dangote Refinery in particular and the rest of Nigerian refineries in general should be treated like the geese that lay the golden eggs.

“They should be given priority in the allocation of crude oil in line with the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 which stipulates that import licences should only be issued to bridge gaps between domestic refining capacity and national demand.

“How can NMDPRA ignore this reality to pursue a phantom, a gamble, by permitting the importation of more petrol? And why should NMDPRA deceive Nigerians by telling us that it had stopped importation of fuel when it has not? Why speak tongue in cheek? Who did this to Nigeria?” it queried.

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