We all dream of a better Nigeria, but instead, we are dragged into an endless labyrinth where a privileged few find joy in our collective suffering. It is now glaringly evident that either the Federal Government or NNPC Limited—or perhaps both—are not being entirely truthful about their public spat with the Dangote Refinery. What we witness today is a disgraceful dance of deception.
Let’s trace the roots of this saga. When former President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the Dangote Refinery, it was a moment of national celebration. We rejoiced at the thought of locally refined fuel, heralding the end of skyrocketing prices. But soon after, whispers began. Under the new administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, NNPCL’s stake in the refinery was reportedly reduced, despite earlier assurances of a significant investment. From there, rumors of a complete divestment emerged.
As Dangote’s refinery began to produce diesel, what should have been a moment of triumph turned into another chapter in this twisted tale. Suddenly, NNPCL and other regulatory bodies, particularly the Nigerian Midstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NMPRC) claimed the Dangote diesel was substandard. The government accused Dangote of foreign exchange violations, raided his refinery, and refused him access to crude oil.
The drama then shifted to pricing. The question we must ask is: where is Nigeria’s Petroleum Minister in all this? Why has President Tinubu, who also serves as Petroleum Minister, remained silent in this sordid affair?
The essence of this conflict lies in appropriate pricing, breaking the grip of oil cartels, and ending the fraudulent subsidy regime that bleeds the nation. It is a battle to reclaim Nigeria’s oil and gas sector from the clutches of an unscrupulous cabal. President Tinubu must rise to the occasion and address this problem.
Ifeanyi Izeze wrote from Abuja and can be reached at [email protected]