Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has raised concerns about potential sabotage of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery by people who are profiting from the Nigeria's fuel importation sector.
Obasanjo made this remarks after the allegations from the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote who claimed that certain groups are attempting to undermine his $20 billion refinery project.
Currently, the refinery has not begun purchasing crude oil in naira, despite President Bola Tinubu's directive to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to facilitate this process.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Obasanjo emphasized that a successful refinery could attract investments from both domestic and international sources.
He stated, “Aliko’s investment in a refinery, if it goes well, should encourage both Nigerians and non-Nigerians to invest in Nigeria. If those who are selling or supplying refined products for Nigeria feel that they will lose the lucrative opportunity, they will also make every effort to get him frustrated.”
Officials from the Dangote Group have reported challenges, claiming that international oil companies are obstructing the refinery's operations by either refusing to sell crude oil or charging prices significantly above the market rate.
They have also accused the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority of issuing licenses for importing contaminated fuel, a claim the regulator has denied, asserting that Dangote's diesel is inferior to imported alternatives.
Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive of NMDPRA, stated that the country would continue fuel imports to prevent a monopoly by the Dangote Group.
Obasanjo criticized Nigeria's historical focus on oil, arguing that the country has overlooked opportunities in gas and agriculture.
He recounted his efforts to involve Shell in operating Nigeria's refineries, which the company declined due to concerns over corruption and maintenance issues.
The former president also expressed skepticism about the government's plans to revitalize the refineries, questioning the frequency of promises made without results.
