Skip to main content Skip to footer 
The Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, has issued a stern warning against efforts to frustrate and demarket Dangote Refinery, stating that such actions would be detrimental to the country. In a statement released in Abuja on Saturday, Abdullahi expressed concerns about the ongoing challenges faced by the refinery, which is one of Africa’s largest oil plants, in securing local crude oil.
Abdullahi highlighted that for the past 30 years, vested interests within the NNPC cartel have rendered Nigeria’s four refineries ineffective, resulting in a reliance on imported refined petroleum products. He criticized the lack of appreciation for Aliko Dangote’s efforts to mitigate this burden, stating that some powerful interests are intent on obstructing the refinery’s operations.
“Nigeria has become the object of global ridicule, being the only member nation of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries without refining capacity,” he said.
Abdullahi called for an end to the detrimental commentary from the NNPCL and other regulatory bodies, which he believes aims to undermine the Dangote Refinery and derail the nation’s economic growth. He warned that the public, who suffer from high fuel prices and frequent shortages, will not continue to tolerate a few powerful individuals holding the economy hostage.
The Northern Elders Forum welcomed the intervention by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobri, and reaffirmed their support for Dangote’s significant contribution to the nation’s prosperity.
