Aliko Dangote, the president of the Dangote Group, revealed that his friend, who had previously advised him against making investments in Nigeria, was now making fun of him for disobeying his advice.
Dangote made this revelation in a Sunday interview with PREMIUM TIMES, just after the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority was reported to have asserted that the diesel produced at the Dangote Refinery was of lower quality.
One of my very affluent friends started investing his money overseas four years ago. I disagreed with him and asked him to reconsider his course of action for the good of his nation.
He attributed his actions to interest group shenanigans and inconsistent policy.
Dangote was cited as stating, “That friend has been taunting me in the past few days, saying he warned me and that he has been proven right.”
He claimed he bought the refinery to contribute to the nation’s solution to a significant problem and questioned why some individuals were conspiring against him.
“As you probably know, I’m 67 years old,” he continued. My birthday is less than three years away. For the rest of my life, I won’t need much. The refinery and all other assets cannot go with me to the hereafter. I act in my nation’s best interests at all times.
Since the 1970s, we have been dealing with a fuel issue. This refinery can assist in fixing the issue, however it seems that some people find it awkward that I’m in the photo. I’m prepared to give up control of the refinery and allow NNPC to buy me out.
“This refinery can assist in fixing the issue, but it seems that some individuals find it awkward that I am included in the photo. I’m prepared to hand over control of the refinery to the NNPC and let them buy me out. At minimum, the nation will produce high-quality goods and generate employment.
After ten years of delayed construction, the $650,000 barrel-per-day refinery finally opened its doors last year. It cost $19 billion, more than twice as much as initially estimated, and was expected to help Africa’s largest oil producer wean itself off of its reliance on foreign fuel and save up to 30% of the foreign exchange spent on importing goods.
While the Dangote refinery refuted allegations of producing inferior fuel, the Federal Government, acting through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, stated on Sunday that it was awaiting new information to verify the true sulphur level of the diesel generated by the refinery.
In an interview with The PUNCH, NMDPRA spokesman George Ene-Ita stated that the organization had fulfilled its duties and that it would not take sides in the media regarding Farouk Ahmed, the NMDPRA Chief Executive, who had claimed that Dangote’s diesel was higher in sulfur than foreign diesel.
Ene-Ita reports that the authority has approximately fifteen engineers and scientists stationed at the Dangote refinery. A new report regarding the refinery’s sulfur content is scheduled to be released on Monday, which is today.
The richest man in Africa had previously explained how a cabal was impeding his attempts to buy crude and how it was difficult to procure goods, which was slowing down operations.
However, the Nigerian government has not yet granted the Dangote refinery a license to start operations in the nation, according to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority last week.
This was revealed by NMDPRA Chief Executive Officer Farouk Ahmed during a Thursday, July 18, press conference at the state house.
