See what Atiku Urges Nigerians to do on Dangote Refinery
Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of Nigeria, has called for a unified effort from Nigerians to support the Dangote Refinery project and to counteract any forces that might hinder its progress.
Abubakar’s appeal comes in light of ongoing tensions between the refinery and Nigerian regulatory bodies. On August 8, the Dangote refinery alleged that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) had been slow to enforce the domestic crude supply obligation (DCSO), affecting the refinery’s ability to secure its full crude oil needs.
The NUPRC, however, countered these claims, stating that it had facilitated the delivery of 29 million barrels of crude oil to the refinery between January and June. Despite this, the Dangote refinery has stated that it has not received the said quantity of crude.
In his remarks, Atiku emphasized the importance of the Dangote Refinery as a crucial investment poised to address Nigeria’s energy and foreign exchange requirements. He expressed concern over potential attempts to sabotage the project and urged Nigerians to take decisive actions to ensure its success.
Abubakar likened the commitment to supporting investments to the dedication of parents awaiting a child, stressing that the same level of resolve should apply to supporting significant projects like the Dangote Refinery. He called on all Nigerians to act decisively to prevent any internal or external forces from obstructing the project’s anticipated benefits.
In June, Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest individual, reported difficulties with international oil companies (IOCs) in supplying crude to his refinery. Gbenga Komolafe, CEO of the NUPRC, dismissed these claims as incorrect, citing the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) which governs willing buyer-willing seller transactions. Nevertheless, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) later reiterated that the IOCs were hindering its efforts to procure crude feedstock for the refinery.
