The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has received a Certificate of Occupancy from Edo State for its proposed Oredo Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited. The certificate was presented to Alhaji Mumuni Dagazau, Executive Vice President, Downstream, NNPC Ltd., during a visit to the Edo State Government House in Benin City on Friday.
The project aligns with the Federal Government's Renewed Hope Agenda and its aim to strengthen domestic energy security, reduce dependence on imported petroleum products and increase local value addition, according to a statement by the Governor's Chief Press Secretary, Patrick Ebojele. Dagazau said the refinery would strengthen Nigeria's domestic refining capacity and create opportunities across the downstream petroleum value chain. He added that it would generate employment, promote technology transfer, encourage local participation and support industrial development in Edo.
Governor Monday Okpebholo said providing the land for the project was part of his administration's efforts to attract investors, increase revenue and create employment opportunities. He expressed confidence that the refinery would expand Edo's commercial base and deliver economic benefits to residents. Okpebholo assured NNPC Ltd. that the state government was ready to support the investment, saying the project would contribute significantly to Edo's development.
Dagazau told the state government that NNPC Ltd. would work closely with it and other stakeholders to provide necessary support for the project's successful completion. He described the certificate presentation as a demonstration of Okpebholo's commitment to attracting productive investments to the state. The event was attended by top government functionaries and members of the NNPC delegation, including Ikedichi Dick-Nwoke, Chief Downstream Investment Officer, and Adaobi Oniwinde, Senior Communications Adviser.