In a statement on Thursday, the NNPC said both organisations made the pledge when Aliko Dangote, president of the Dangote Group, visited Bayo Ojulari, NNPC’s group chief executive officer (GCEO), at his office in Abuja.

According to the statement, the NNPC GCEO and Dangote “committed to enhancing cooperation to support Nigeria’s energy security and promote shared prosperity for its people”.

Dangote was said to have pledged work with the new NNPC management to help secure the country’s energy future during the meeting.

“There is no competition between us, we are not here to compete with NNPC Ltd. NNPC is part and parcel of our business, and we are also part of NNPC. This is an era of co-operation between the two organisations,” Dangote added.

While congratulating the GCEO and senior management team on their “well-deserved appointments”, Dangote acknowledged the weight of the responsibility ahead.

He said the NNPC GCEO faces a significant challenge, but expressed confidence that, “with the capable team at NNPC, it can be overcome”.

In his remarks, the NNPC GCEO assured Dangote of a win-win partnership built on fair competition and meaningful collaboration.

Ojulari said he was impressed by the high-quality talent within the NNPC, describing its staff as dedicated, highly skilled, and hardworking professionals focused on creating value for Nigeria.

Highlighting the company’s commitment to fostering national prosperity through innovation and shared vision, Ojulari said the NNPC will maintain its partnership with the Dangote Group, particularly where it serves Nigeria’s commercial interests.

The NNPC and Dangote have been at loggerheads over the supply of crude oil as well as petroleum products’ prices.

The sale of crude oil and refined petroleum products in naira to local refineries  on October 1, 2024, to improve supply, save the country millions of dollars in petroleum products imports, and ultimately reduce pump prices.

On March 10, TheCable  that the NNPC had halted the naira-for-crude deal until 2030, as the government-owned company has forward-sold all its crude oil.

Nine days later, the Dangote refinery said it had  the sale of petroleum products in naira.

However, on April 9, the federal government will continue after the first phase, which ended on March 31.

Consequently, on April 10, the refinery the price of petrol at its gantry to N865 per litre.

The refinery its key partners would cut pump prices to N890 per litre in Lagos.

Similarly, on April 21, the NNPC at its outlets to N880 per litre in Lagos and N935 per litre in Abuja.