ELDER Statesman and renowned Transporter, Alhaji Umar Adamkolo Umar, Kauran Saminaka, has urged the Federal Government, Elder statemen, Community, Religious and Labour Leaders, and Professional bodies to give total support to the $20bn Dangote Refinery.
He opined that the edifice is a masterstroke and a monumental enterprise that will make amazing significant contributions to the socioeconomic development of Nigeria.
Kauran Saminaka during an interview with a select journalists on Wednesday then expressed concern and was surprised over the allegations of poor quality diesel against Dangote refinery by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
NMDPRA and Dangote refinery have been embroiled in a dispute that began recently.
The dispute peaked on July 18 when Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA, said local refineries, including the Dangote refinery, produce inferior products compared to the ones imported into the country.
But according to Umar Adamkolo, the CEO of NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed has no shame to say a product that has been used and tested by international regulators and has been used by local and international consumers is inferior. It simply means, the man doesn’t know his job and he should be sacked immediately.
“The careless statement by Farouk without conducting any prior investigation is not only unprofessional, but also unpatriotic and shameless”.
He added that Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, faces energy challenges, with all its state-owned refineries non-operational. The country is heavily reliant on imported refined petroleum products, with the state-run NNPC being the major importer of the essential commodities.
“Fuel queues are commonplace in the country. Prices of petrol tripled since the removal of subsidy in May 2023, from around N200/litre to around over N700/litre, compounding the woes of the citizens who power their vehicles, and generating sets with petrol, no thanks to decades-long epileptic electricity supply. So Dangote refinery came at the right time for Nigeria and Nigerians”.
“The government and people of Nigeria don’t need a soothsayer to tell them the economic boost and ease Dangote Refinery brings to the country, we have seen that with the crash of diesel price by Dangote, things became much easier for many people and business owners nationwide.
“It is disheartening that some people are even saying Dangote is attempting to monopolize the energy industry. How is seeking protection and support from the federal government for a $20 billion investment in Nigeria is an attempt to monopolise ?”.
“Those who wish to compete should establish their own refineries in the country, as this would be fair and help drive local productivity and boost the economy. Competition is good for everyone. But is Dangote refineries anti-competitive? What is the evidence? Has Dangote refineries prevented any other company from setting up refineries?
“Why have others not done so? How come they have not done so for several decades? Was it Dangote that held them back? But Dangote refineries surely cannot be asked to ‘compete’ with importers of petroleum products. So who is monopolizing who?
To support the President of African Development Bank, Mr. Akinwumi Adesina, let the importers set up local refineries and compete by refining in Nigeria. That is fair and justified competition. We cannot and must not undermine, disparage or kill local industries, talk less of one that is of this scale — a jewel of industrialisation in Nigeria”.
“We should look beyond politics, religion and ethnicity, let’s put Nigeria first and do the right thing by supporting the progress of Dangote Refinery. This is not about north or south, business community or not, it’s about Nigeria and its progress. I am a Nigerian before anything. So let’s put Nigeria first.
“As a matter of fact, I feel the President himself should have to sit-down with all the parties involved in this matter. It is beyond the powers of a Minister, the President himself should handle the matter. The government will save itself a lot of embarrassment and the sooner it solves this alarming crisis in the oil and gas sector, the better.
“This whole thing has turned this country into a laughing stock in the eyes of the world and if not properly managed the issue can cause the biggest unrest this country has ever seen, and it will get to a point that no investor will come to Nigeria and the govt can’t even get loans and levies from other countries.
“The government cannot go around the world asking for foreign investment only to be accused of destroying local investment. It is very dangerous for the country. It is so embarrassing that we are telling the whole world that the government of Nigeria is incapable of managing its affairs. That one person is monopolising trade in our country,” he said.
“If you have allowed your own refineries to be destroyed, what happens? Somebody now decides to have a refinery, that’s a monopoly. There is nothing you can do about it. You must now stop this childish, very puerile argument that someone wants a monopoly,” he said, calling on the government to work and fix the country’s refineries.
“If a factory is likely to employ 500,000 people, young people, the government must try and embrace that company and see what can be done. Dangote is the biggest labour employer after the govt in this country, that is no joke”, Adamkolo emphasized.