Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, revealed that a friend who had previously advised him against investing in Nigeria is now mocking him for not heeding the warning.
In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday, Dangote shared his experience amidst reports from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) alleging that diesel from the Dangote Refinery is of inferior quality.
“Four years ago, a wealthy friend of mine started investing abroad. I disagreed and urged him to reconsider for the country’s sake. He blamed policy inconsistencies and interest group shenanigans,” Dangote recounted. “Recently, he has been taunting me, saying he warned me and has been proven right.”
Dangote explained that he invested in the refinery to address a major national issue and expressed frustration over opposition to his efforts. “At 67, I need very little for the rest of my life. I can’t take the refinery to my grave. Everything I do is for my country,” he said.
He continued, “We’ve faced a fuel crisis since the 70s. This refinery could help resolve the problem, but some people seem uncomfortable with my involvement. I’m willing to let the NNPC buy me out and run the refinery, ensuring the country gets high-quality products and jobs.”
The 650,000 barrel-per-day refinery, which started operations last year after a decade of construction costing $19 billion, aims to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel and save 30% of foreign exchange spent on imports.
On Sunday, the NMDPRA stated it was awaiting new reports to confirm the sulphur content of diesel produced by the Dangote refinery, following claims of inferior quality. NMDPRA spokesman George Ene-Ita mentioned that engineers and scientists embedded in the refinery would provide updated findings.
Dangote also shared how a cabal had obstructed his crude import efforts, affecting operations. Last week, NMDPRA announced that the Nigerian government had not yet licensed the Dangote refinery for operations. NMDPRA CEO Farouk Ahmed stated that the refinery was still in the pre-commissioning stage and that the diesel produced did not meet international standards, a claim Dangote has denied.
