NAJA Calls for Direct Crude Supply to Local Refineries

The Nigerian Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) has called on the federal government to guarantee direct crude oil supply to local refineries, especially Dangote Refinery, as fuel prices continue to rise due to global tensions affecting energy prices. In a statement issued on Thursday, NAJA warned that the increasing cost of petrol exacerbates the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, posing a serious threat to Nigeria's economic stability and the welfare of its citizens, who are already grappling with inflationary pressures.

NAJA argues that Nigeria must insulate its downstream petroleum sector from external shocks and strengthen local refining capacity. The association's chairman, Theodor Opara, emphasized the need for policies that enable local refineries to access crude oil directly from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) to reduce exposure to fluctuations in the global oil market.

Opara noted that the current reliance on imported crude undermines the potential for stabilizing local fuel prices and highlighted the importance of a robust domestic refining framework for energy security.