The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called for the full implementation of President Bola Tinubu’s directive on the supply of crude oil to the Dangote Refinery and other modular refineries across the country.
Describing the establishment of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery as a nationalistic and patriotic endeavour, the NBA urged the Federal Government and the public to rally behind the project. The association stressed that the refinery holds the potential to end the persistent fuel scarcity and the long-standing queues at petrol stations that have plagued the nation.
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The NBA expressed disappointment over the resistance the refinery is facing from fuel importers. These importers, it said, have stifled Nigeria’s economy, keeping it dependent on imported petroleum products despite its status as a leading oil producer.
The NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau, who led a delegation to the refinery, commended Aliko Dangote, the President and CEO of Dangote Group, for his resilience in the face of such opposition. “What I have seen today gladdens my heart, but at the same time, my heart is bleeding because of the neglect and opposition that such a laudable effort is facing. It is shameful, but as I mentioned to the President of the group, his continued steadfastness and resilience despite the opposition show that there is hope for this country. I would describe Aliko Dangote as both a freedom fighter and an economic warrior,” Maikyau said.
He further urged the Federal Government to create a supportive environment for the refinery, stressing that doing so could transform Nigeria into a net exporter of refined petroleum products and bring an end to fuel shortages. Maikyau lamented that it is embarrassing for the refinery to import crude oil while exporting refined products due to opposition from local interests.
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The Vice Chairman of the NBA’s Epe Branch, Ivo Takor, also praised the refinery’s location in the Ibeju-Lekki-Epe axis. He highlighted the project’s potential to address Nigeria’s fuel importation crisis, create jobs, boost foreign exchange, and reduce the government’s expenditure on fuel subsidies. “The refinery is something every Nigerian should be proud of. It is a project that will move Nigeria away from its long-standing issue of fuel importation,” he said.
Takor acknowledged that despite these benefits, certain entrenched cartels are opposed to the refinery’s full operation. He commended President Tinubu for his directive on the supply of crude but emphasised the need for strict monitoring to ensure compliance. He warned that withholding crude from the refinery amounted to sabotage and called for appropriate sanctions.
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Devakumar Edwin, Vice President (Oil & Gas) at Dangote Industries Limited, informed the NBA delegates that the refinery was built primarily to refine local crude for Nigeria’s benefit, with any surplus production to be exported. He lamented the need to import crude oil due to insufficient supplies from within Nigeria, while the refinery continues to export refined products abroad.
