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Dangote Refinery: Northern Elders Warn Against Demarketing
The chairman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Prof. Ango Abdullahi, has cautioned against undermining and disparaging Dangote Refinery.
Prof. Abdullahi statee that such actions would be detrimental to the country.
The former Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, raised these concerns in a statement issued in Abuja on July 27, 2024.
His concerns follow the Federal Government’s intervention in the ongoing dispute between the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority and the management of Dangote Refinery.
Recent media reports have highlighted the challenges faced by the refinery, one of Africa’s largest oil plants.
Securing local crude oil has become its major point of discussion.
Abdullahi stated that for 30 years, vested interests within NNPC have kept the nation’s four refineries in disrepair.
This has left them unable to refine the petroleum needed to meet domestic consumption.
As a result, the country has faced ongoing shortages.
He observed that instead of appreciating Aliko Dangote for his efforts to alleviate Nigeria’s reliance on imported refined petroleum products, some vested interests are determined to obstruct his operations.
These individuals, he said, focus on frustrating the refinery’s success.
This resistance undermines the potential benefits for the country.
According to him, Nigeria has become the object of global ridicule.
It is the only member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) without refining capacity, relying heavily on mass importation of oil and its derivatives.
Abdullahi statement
The statement reads in part:
“The Northern Elders Forum is watching with sustained interest the unfolding drama being orchestrated by some powerful vested interests to frustrate the good example set by the nation’s leading investor and foremost African entrepreneur, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who has defied all formidable odds to build a privately-owned ultramodern petroleum refinery in Nigeria.
“This remarkable business feat, which ordinarily should instantly earn him national encomiums and accolades, has paradoxically ignited the malicious fury of enemies of our dear country, who are strategically located in the oil and gas sector of the economy.
“They have been wreaking havoc over the years through many subterfuges, resulting in the crippling of our nation’s refining capacity and the ruthless imposition of a ruinous regime of massive refined oil and other sundry products importation to the detriment of our national growth.
“In this wise, the lamentable and highly troubling commentary against the Dangote refinery that came out from the NNPCL and its other sister regulatory bodies smacks of a glaring attempt to de-market this epochal national achievement and premeditatedly derail the economy from the path of healthy growth and stability.”
Arewa warns
Continuing, the Arewa leader warned that the masses, mostly those who bear the brunt of escalating fuel pump prices, and joblessness, would no longer remain passive.
He said that they will no longer allow a few powerful individuals to take the nation’s economy hostage.
“Regrettably, it is only in Nigeria that politics is played with narrow interests as the motive force and the sole determinant, more often than not, allowed to trample the economic interest of the nation.
“The NEF, while welcoming and taking judicious note of the timely action taken by the Honorable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Heineken Lokpobri, to arrest this worrisome situation, wishes to conclude by restating our determination to stand resolutely with Dangote in defense of this gigantic business stride, which signifies the dawn of prosperity for our people,” the statement added.
Dangote Refinery
The Dangote Refinery is a major industrial project located in Lagos, Nigeria.
It is one of the largest and most ambitious refining ventures in Africa.
Named after Aliko Dangote, a prominent Nigerian businessman and one of Africa’s wealthiest individuals.
The refinery aims to address Nigeria’s long-standing challenges with fuel importation and refining capacity.
Key Features of the Aliko Dangote Refinery:
- Capacity and Scale:
The refinery is designed with a processing capacity of about 650,000 barrels per day.
It is one of the largest single-train refineries in the world.
This high capacity is expected to boost Nigeria’s refining capabilities and Nigeria’s reliance on imported refined petroleum products.
- Economic Impact:
The project is expected to create thousands of jobs and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economy.
By reducing the need for fuel imports, it aims to help stabilize fuel prices and improve the balance of trade.
- Integration with Other Facilities:
The refinery is part of a larger industrial complex that includes a petrochemical plant, a fertilizer plant, and a port.
This integrated approach aims to maximize operational efficiency and create synergies between different sectors of the energy and manufacturing industries.
- Technological Advancements:
The refinery incorporates advanced technology to ensure high efficiency and low environmental impact.
It is designed to process a wide variety of crude oil types and produce a range of refined products.
- Local Benefits:
By producing refined products locally, the refinery aims to reduce fuel importation costs and improve fuel availability throughout Nigeria.
This is expected to have a positive effect on various sectors of the economy, including transportation and manufacturing.
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