The Minister of Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, alongside the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, appeared before the National Assembly on Friday to participate in the 2025 budget defence session, aimed at providing insights into the ministry's financial plans and strategic initiatives for the upcoming year.
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However, the session experienced significant disruptions when lawmakers expressed their dissatisfaction over the absence of essential budget documents prior to the meeting. This omission raised concerns about transparency and accountability in the budgeting process, prompting heated exchanges during the proceedings.
 ÂThe situation became more tense during Senator Lokpobiri’s presentation, where one lawmaker confronted Hon. Ekpo directly, questioning the oversight and demanding immediate explanations. The confrontation highlighted frustrations among lawmakers regarding the perceived lack of preparedness by the ministry.
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In response, Senator Lokpobiri offered an apology for the delay in providing the necessary documents, describing the incident as unintentional. He reassured the National Assembly of the ministry’s dedication to fostering a cooperative and collaborative relationship, emphasizing the importance of synergy between the executive and legislative branches to achieve common goals.
 ÂDuring his address, Hon. Ekpo highlighted key government initiatives aimed at addressing pressing issues in the petroleum sector. These initiatives include efforts to minimize petroleum sector explosions and the promotion of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as a cleaner, safer, and more environmentally friendly energy alternative. As part of this initiative, he revealed that ₦222 billion had been allocated to six companies tasked with developing midstream and downstream infrastructure to facilitate the nationwide adoption of CNG, a critical component of the government's energy transition strategy.
 ÂThe Ministry of Petroleum Resources proposed a total budget of ₦4.25 billion for 2025. This budget allocation is intended to cover personnel costs, overhead expenditures, and capital investments necessary for advancing the ministry’s objectives. The session also provided an opportunity to review the performance of the ministry’s 2024 budget. This review shed light on ongoing reforms, such as the promotion of modular refineries and measures to boost local refining capacity, all aimed at strengthening the oil and gas sector while reducing reliance on imported petroleum products.
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