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| Photo shows L--R, Leaders of Civil Society Organizations (CSO) - Global Integrity Crusade Network, Barr. Edward Ejembi; Guidance of Democracy and Development Initiative, Comr. Igwe Ude – Umanta; Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC), Barr. Mary Ogwiji; Rising Up for a United Nigeria, Amb. Solomon Adodo; Vice President (Oil & Gas), Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin; Empowerment For Unemployed Youth Innovative, Comr. Danesi Momoh; and Zero Tolerance for Corruption Association (ZTCA), Abdulmalik Zakari during the visit of members of the Civil Society Organisations to Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Petrochemical And Fertiliser Plants,in Lagos at the weekend. |
A coalition of 28 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) has announced plans to establish a situation room in Abuja to monitor the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited's (NNPCL) compliance with a presidential directive mandating crude oil sales to Dangote Refinery in Naira.
During a visit to the refinery at the weekend, the CSO leaders expressed concerns that NNPCL and regulatory agencies are intentionally stifling local refineries to maintain reliance on imported petroleum products.
The Dangote Refinery, the world's largest single-train facility, aims to significantly boost Nigeria's refining capacity and reduce fuel imports.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu had in the web of controversies that trailed the face-off between Dangote Refinery and the NNPCL intervened and directed the Corporation to henceforth sell crude to Dangote Refinery in Naira.
Speaking on behalf of others, Solomon Adodo of the Rise Up for A United Nigeria said what his group had seen was a world class facility and wondered how a regulatory agency of the government could take sides with importers of petroleum products when a local refinery is now available to bail the nation out of the forex quagmire which has made the price of petroleum products to skyrocket.
He disclosed that the CSOs have concluded to petition the Presidency on the need to adopt Dangote Refinery as a national asset that should be used to liberate the country from the shackles of importation of fuel while it exports crude.
Said he: having gone round to see this world class project, we are at a loss as to why the government could decide to turn against Nigerians in this manner. But we are not too surprised given our past experiences. Those who are profiting from our collective misfortune will not want the Dangote refinery to work.
“We are ready to defend this facility with everything as civil society organizations. We are not speaking on our behalf but on behalf of all Nigerians and on behalf of our fatherland. It leaves much to be desired how an agency of government with oversight function to guide to grow such a project as this would now be disparaging same project. This is too bad, he said among other things.
Adodo said that the CSOs would mount serious advocacy to make government accede to demands of Nigerians which is not just granting the sale of crude to Dangote Refinery in Naira but also ensuring Dangote fuel are available at petrol stations for Nigerians to buy.
The group appealed to the management of Dangote Refinery not to be discouraged but to trudge on as the group would mount serious campaign in favour of the refinery. “Even if it means we should protest, we will. We cant allow this international embarrassment to stand.”
Speaking while welcoming the group, Vice-President, Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, described Dangote Refiney as a value adding facility as it will stop the exportation of Nigeria’s crude and importation of finished products and wonder why government would be against such a vision for Nigeria.
According to him, many African countries have minerals but they are not adding value to their economies because, those minerals are exported raw and the finished products are imported back into the country whereas vice versa should have been the order of the day.
“This is what Dangote refinery seeks to correct, we did same in Cement and Sugar sectors where Nigeria was a leading importer of those products and with the coming of Dangote leading the backward integration programme of the government, others came into the sector and together Nigeria now exports cement to other countries.
“Even the US that is the leading proponent of of free market economy protects its local industries by imposing huge duty on foreign imports just to protect local industries. This is a man that Saudi Aramco once approached to come and cite the refinery in Saudi Arabia, promising steady supply of crude. Abu Dhabi also invited him to do same on their soil but he rejected the offer, insisting he would build at home. Now, he did that and a facility that is supposed to add value to Nigeria’s economy is being frustrated.”
The Dangote Vice-President said the company would continue to focus on its business strategy, which is to add value to Nigeria economy through investments and job creation for the teeming Nigerian masses.
According to him, Nigeria can only consume 45% of the capacity of the refinery while the remaining 55% will be exported and bring into the country foreign exchange needed badly.
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