After months of strained relations and a heated pricing standoff, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals are taking steps to resolve their differences and promote strategic collaboration in the oil and gas sector.
At a high-level meeting held in Abuja, both companies expressed a renewed commitment to strengthening their partnership, with a shared goal of ensuring Nigeria’s energy security and fostering economic growth.
The rivalry had intensified following a petrol pricing conflict that temporarily halted the government-brokered “crude-for-naira” deal. The suspension was later reversed after changes in NNPC’s leadership.
In a statement released Friday, NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, confirmed that the rapprochement took place during a courtesy visit by Dangote Group President and CEO, Aliko Dangote, to NNPC Group CEO, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, and his senior management team.
During the visit, Dangote stressed the importance of collaboration, declaring, “There is no competition between us. NNPC is part and parcel of our business, and we are part of NNPC. This is a new era of cooperation.”
He also congratulated Ojulari and his team on their appointments, acknowledging the scale of their responsibilities while expressing confidence in their ability to deliver.
In response, Ojulari welcomed the renewed partnership, emphasizing the importance of healthy competition and joint efforts that align with national interests. He praised the NNPC workforce as committed and highly skilled, ready to deliver value to Nigerians.
Both leaders agreed to serve as direct relationship managers for their respective organizations, pledging to maintain an open, productive dialogue. They also highlighted future opportunities for collaboration where commercial interests align, reinforcing their vision of building a legacy of shared prosperity.
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