Demarketing Dangote Refinery By Vested Interests Will Do Nigeria No Good – Northern Elders
Prof Ango Abdullahi, the Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum, has emphatically voiced his concerns regarding detrimental narratives against the Dangote Refinery, indicating such actions would negatively impact Nigeria’s progress. In a recent statement released in Abuja, Abdullahi highlighted the detrimental effects of undermining efforts that aim to enhance the country’s self-sufficiency in petroleum refining.
The backdrop of this cautionary stance stems from a recent disagreement between the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority and Dangote Refinery’s management, which prompted Federal Government intervention to smooth over the conflict.
As a revered academic and former vice-chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Abdullahi pointed out the historical challenge of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) cartel’s influence. He lamented that for over three decades, this influence has led to the degradation of Nigeria’s four refineries, leaving them incapable of meeting domestic petroleum needs.
The crux of Abdullahi’s message was the importance of recognizing the efforts by Nigerian business mogul Aliko Dangote. Dangote’s venture into refining is seen as a patriotic move to alleviate the country from the heavy dependence on imported refined petroleum products. However, instead of receiving nationwide support, these efforts seem to be thwarted by individuals and entities with vested interests.
In a candid reflection, Abdullahi remarked on Nigeria’s peculiar situation as the only Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) member nation lacking refining capacity, which subjects the country to international ridicule and economic vulnerability through massive importation obligations.
Highlighting the reaction from NNPC and other regulatory bodies, Abdullahi noted the unsettling attempts to disparage the Dangote refinery, which he describes as an “epochal national achievement.” Such actions, according to him, threaten not only the economy’s trajectory towards growth and stability but also undermine national prosperity.
With a focus on the broader implications, Abdullahi expressed concern over the socioeconomic consequences of continuous fuel price hikes, fuel shortages, and unemployment, exacerbated by the actions of a few at the expense of the masses. He cautioned against the penchant for prioritizing political over economic interests, which historically has trumped the national economic agenda.
In conclusion, the Northern Elders Forum, under Abdullahi’s leadership, welcomed the intervention by the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Heineken Lokpobri, in addressing the situation. The forum reaffirmed its unwavering support for Dangote’s refinery project, viewing it as a beacon of prosperity and stability for Nigeria. The message was clear: standing together in defense of transformative economic undertakings is pivotal for the nation’s forward march.
