Our Terms & Conditions | Our Privacy Policy
Energy expert Dan Kunle has defended the $20 billion Dangote Refinery against criticisms from petroleum marketers, describing it as a game-changing project that has transformed Nigeria’s energy landscape.
Speaking on ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Kunle highlighted the refinery’s achievements, including one year of Premium Motor Spirit production and the rollout of 10,000 compressed natural gas-powered trucks to distribute fuel nationwide.
He criticised unions and petroleum marketers for failing to invest in domestic refining over the years, accusing them of preferring endless negotiations while Nigeria remained dependent on imports.
“In the last two years, we have been talking, talking, talking. That is the problem of Nigeria: talk, talk, talk, no action. They would have mobilised capital and negotiated with the federal government to sell the existing government-owned refineries to them.
“They didn’t do that. They now see clearly that the day has broken from darkness,” Kunle said.
He praised Dangote’s investment as a national breakthrough.
He said, “Dangote has brought light from the heavens to the earth. Let there be light and there was light. The light has come now.”
Kunle accused local fuel importers of prioritising profit over national interest, saying their activities had contributed to inflation.
In contrast, he argued, Dangote had introduced transparency and competitiveness.
He dismissed allegations that the refinery prioritises exports, stressing that its location in a free trade zone gives it both domestic and global advantages.
“This small blackmail they want to bring, I call it cheap blackmail. Ask them, the one they are importing, why are they afraid that they are going to drop the price?
“Why didn’t they also drop the price? Let them also cut prices now,” he added.
According to Kunle, Dangote’s operations save Nigerians significant costs, noting that previous import arrangements added at least ₦75 per litre to pump prices through shipping and logistics.
He warned that continued attacks on the refinery could discourage other investors.
“If all this noise continues to distract Dangote refinery and new potential investors like Duan, it means they will reinforce the status of Dangote to be the single player because they have scared away all other investors.
“While they themselves are not investing, they have become an enemy of the state,” he said.
On the launch of 10,000 CNG-powered trucks, Kunle said the move should be seen as a challenge to expand infrastructure.
“Dangote is building roads more than anybody in this country, except the federal government. If you roll out 10,000, that 10,000 will challenge us to build more roads. So it’s not a static thing. We must challenge President Tinubu to help us accelerate the economic reform of this country,” he said.
He urged the government to match private-sector efforts with infrastructure development:
“Where the private sector has made efforts in this regard, the government must ensure infrastructure development is a priority to accommodate this innovation.”
On September 6, the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, accused powerful interests in the petroleum sector of plotting to frustrate his multibillion-dollar refinery, warning that their actions mirror the destruction of Nigeria’s once-thriving textile industry.
He stated this after launching compressed natural gas-powered trucks for direct fuel distribution in Lagos state.
Dangote said entrenched groups in the downstream sector were deliberately undermining local refining.
“The international traders and the local marketers all connive to suffocate any refinery,” he declared.
Dangote revealed that the first year of petrol production at the $20 billion facility had been marked by intense resistance from both international traders and local marketers, who he claimed preferred importation because of the profits it brings.
He warned that, unless checked, such resistance could derail Nigeria’s push for energy independence.
“What happened to textiles is exactly what they want to do to refining. They don’t want Nigeria to stand on its own,” he added.
His comments come amid ongoing disputes between the refinery and major industry groups, including the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria.
NUPENG recently shut down depots, accusing the refinery of barring its drivers from union membership.
DAPPMAN, on its part, accused Dangote Refinery of distorting the market by offering petrol to international traders at N65 cheaper than to local buyers.
Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.
Aggregated From –
Comments are closed.