Aliko Dangote, the President of Dangote Group, has said that his friend, who previously warned him against investing in Nigeria, is now taunting him for ignoring his advice.
Dangote stated this in an interview with Premium Times on Sunday, just as the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority claimed that fuel from Dangote Refinery is of lower quality.
“Four years ago, one of my very wealthy friends began to invest his money abroad. I disagreed with him and urged him to rethink his actions in the interest of his country.
“He blamed his action on policy inconsistencies and the shenanigans of interest groups.
“That friend has been taunting me in the past few days, saying he warned me and that he has been proven right,” Dangote was quoted to have said.
He mentioned that he invested in the refinery to help solve a major issue in the country, wondering why some people were working against him.
He added, “As you probably know, I am 67 years old. In less than three years, I will be 70. I need very little to live the rest of my life. I can’t take the refinery or any other property or asset to my grave. Everything I do is in the interest of my country.’
“We have been facing a fuel crisis since the 1970s. This refinery can help in resolving the problem, but it does appear some people are uncomfortable that I am in the picture. So I am ready to let go, let the NNPC buy me out, and run the refinery.
“This refinery can help in resolving the problem, but it does appear some people are uncomfortable that I am in the picture. So I am ready to let go, let the NNPC buy me out, and run the refinery. At least the country will have high-quality products and create jobs.”
The 650,000 barrel-per-day refinery, which opened last year after a decade of delayed construction, cost $19 billion, more than double the initial estimate, and is expected to help wean Africa’s largest oil producer off its reliance on foreign fuel and save up to 30% of total foreign exchange spent on importing goods.
On Sunday, the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, stated that it was anticipating new reports to validate the true sulphur level of the diesel generated by the Dangote refinery, while the company refuted charges of poor fuel output.
In an interview, NMDPRA spokesman George Ene-Ita said the agency had done its job and would not engage in a public battle with anyone over statements made by NMDPRA Chief Executive Farouk Ahmed that Dangote’s fuel has higher sulphur than foreign diesel.
According to Ene-Ita, the authority has approximately 15 engineers and scientists implanted in the Dangote refinery, and a new report on the refinery’s sulphur concentration will be released on Monday (today).
Africa’s richest man had previously described how a cabal was impeding his efforts to acquire crude and how it has been tough to obtain products, hampering operations.
However, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority announced last week that the Nigerian government had yet to grant the Dangote refinery a license to commence operations in the country.
Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA, stated this to the press at the State House on Thursday, July 18.
According to Ahmed, International Oil Companies’ allegations of ongoing efforts to halt activities at the Dangote refinery owing to a lack of crude oil supply were false, adding that the refinery was still in the pre-commissioning stage and had not yet been licensed.
Ahmed also claimed that Dangote’s diesel product fell below international standards, which the industrialist denied.
