Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed concerns about potential deliberate attempts to hinder the progress of the Dangote Refinery, a key private sector initiative vital to Nigeria’s energy and foreign exchange needs.
In a statement shared on social media, Atiku emphasized the importance of ensuring that both internal and external forces do not collaborate to undermine the refinery’s success.
“Each parent eagerly awaiting the arrival of a child will dutifully undertake the necessary measures to ensure that the nurturing and development of this precious blessing remain a primary focus.
This fundamental principle applies equally to investments, whether they be local or international in nature,” Atiku stated, drawing a parallel between the anticipation of a child and the nurturing of significant investments like the Dangote Refinery.
He urged Nigerians to take decisive actions to guarantee that the benefits promised by the refinery are fully realized, free from any hindrances.
Atiku’s cautionary message comes in the wake of reports from Dangote Refinery that it has yet to receive the 26 million barrels of crude oil allocation that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) claimed to have facilitated in the first quarter of 2024.
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In response, Dangote Refinery clarified that, aside from a term supply negotiated with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), NUPRC had only facilitated the purchase of one crude cargo from a domestic producer, with the rest of the processed cargoes sourced from international traders.
The refinery has called on NUPRC to expedite the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act to ensure smooth operations.
Atiku’s statement underscores the critical need for vigilance and proactive measures to protect Nigeria’s strategic investments from potential sabotage, ensuring that the nation’s economic growth and energy security are not compromised.
