Dangote Refinery: Obasanjo, Kwankwaso slam fuel importers

Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso have berated fuel importers for creating unnecessary fuss around the integrity of Dangote Refinery.

In an interview with the Financial Times recently, the former president warned that fuel importers are out to frustrate the Dangote Refinery project since they believe it won’t be business as usual for their lucrative business.

“Aliko’s investment in a refinery, if it goes well, should encourage both Nigerians and non-Nigerians to invest in Nigeria.

“If those who are selling or supplying refined products for Nigeria feel that they will lose the lucrative opportunity, they will also make every effort to get him frustrated,” Obasanjo stated.

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In his words, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the 2023 general elections, Rabiu Kwankwaso, warned that vested interests by government and non-government officials to frustrate the $20bn refinery could damage investor confidence in the Nigerian economy.

Speaking on his X account, Kwankwaso stressed the importance of protecting the asset from any threats that could undermine its operations, adding that everything humanly possible must be done to protect what he described as a crucial asset that is capable of enhancing the nation’s energy needs and economic stability.

“The creation of unnecessary fuss around its integrity by some vested interests is very unfortunate, and it stands to undo all the years of hard work to maintain the fragile investor confidence in our economy.

“I was privileged to visit the magnificent Dangote Refinery, and I was marvelled by the sheer commitment that went into the quality of its establishment.

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“It’s time for us to rally around this national asset to ensure that the monumental project does not fail. It cannot fail, and the Nigerian government must understand this by demonstrating fairness and confidence in both domestic and foreign critical investments,” he stated.

It would be recalled that Dangote Group recently cried out that international oil companies were frustrating the refinery by refusing to sell crude or by selling to them at a premium up to $4 above the normal price.

This prompted the Federal Executive Council’s directive to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, to sell crude oil to Dangote Refinery and other local refineries in naira and not in United States greenback.

They also accused the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority of deliberately granting licenses to individuals to import dirty fuel.

The regulator denied this, saying Dangote diesel was inferior when compared to the imported ones.