Monarchs urged to support Dangote refinery

Youths in Lagos State have charged traditional rulers in Yoruba land to rally around the $20bn Dangote oil refinery, being the host of the facility.

The youths, who appreciated President Bola Tinubu for approving the sale of crude oil to the refinery in naira, said they had earlier threatened to take to the streets if the Federal Government had failed to resolve the issues ignited by the comments from the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Farouk Ahmed, who said the refinery was producing high sulphur diesel.

The youths, under the aegis of the Lagos Advocacy Group, Lekki Empire Advocacy Forum, and Yoruba Youth Advocacy Forum, spoke Tuesday at a press conference held in Lagos.

Speaking on behalf of the youths, the Convener of the Lagos Advocacy Group, Barrister Yakubu Eleto, appealed to all the traditional rulers in the South-West to rally around the refinery because it is located in Yoruba land.

“The royal fathers should not allow the great investment to die, as posterity will judge them if they fail to talk now,” he stated.

According to Eleto, the alleged refusal of international oil companies to sell crude oil to Dangote at the market price and the attempt by some cabal to demarket the refinery demands the monarchs’ immediate attention and collective action as stakeholders in the host community.

He said the efforts of the Federal Government to attract foreign investors would not have succeeded if Aliko Dangote was seen to be frustrated despite his huge investments in Nigeria.

Aside from that, the convener maintained that the failure of the 650,000-capacity refinery would mean that over 10,000 youths would not have access to jobs that would have been available to them at the refinery.

“As stakeholders in the Lagos and South-West community, we are out to resolve the disputes by calling for more amicable resolution between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the management of Dangote refinery. We are happy the president has taken the first step. But we demand transparency in the refinery’s operations and government regulations. We demand accountability from the government for their actions and claims against the Dangote refinery.

“We call on the government not to frustrate the project and ensure it makes it work for the people of Nigeria, considering the public’s interest, and ensuring the refinery’s operations benefit the community.

“We call on the Government to open channels for continuous round table discussion with the Dangote management so as to facilitate mutually beneficial solutions. We want the Federal Government to note that resolving amicably with Dangote will lead to economic growth as the refinery operations will contribute to the development of the country,” the legal practitioner stated.

To address pricing challenges, the groups advocated for collaborative agreements between Dangote and independent marketers, stating that the facilitation of direct sales and distribution channels could stabilise prices and ensure wider market access for Dangote’s refined products.

Such collaborations, he opined, would also mitigate the impact of international market fluctuations on the local fuel market, providing more stability for consumers and businesses alike.

He urged the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission to prioritise domestic crude allocations to local refineries, including Dangote’s, to enhance energy security and economic stability.

“We also urge the Federal Government to reassess the licensing and regulatory framework to prevent the importation of substandard fuels and support local refining initiatives. The Federal Government’s integrity will be restored as a government that is not out to frustrate indigenous investors and be seen by the international community as a country that is interested in investors,” he advised.

After weeks of crying out over the lack of crude supply, the Federal Government on Tuesday said the 450,000 barrels meant for domestic consumption be sold to the Dangote refinery and other refineries in naira.

This came after many top Nigerians stood up in defence of Dangote after the NMDPRA boss accused the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote

Bola Tinubu, of planning to be a monopolist by seeking an end to fuel importation, despite producing dirty fuel.

The National Assembly has since launched an investigation into the controversies.