The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has leveled serious allegations against influential vested interests, accusing them of deliberately obstructing the Dangote Refinery’s efforts to produce refined petroleum.
In a statement issued on Saturday, NEF Chairman Professor Ango Abdullahi expressed concern over the growing controversy involving the Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The NEF statement criticized the ongoing campaign against the Dangote Refinery, highlighting the remarkable achievement of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, a leading African entrepreneur who has successfully built a state-of-the-art, privately-owned petroleum refinery in Nigeria. This achievement, which should be celebrated as a milestone for the nation, has instead faced antagonism from various factions within the oil and gas sector.
The statement described these antagonists as “enemies of our dear country,” who have historically undermined the nation’s refining capacity and perpetuated a detrimental reliance on imported refined oil and related products. The NEF condemned the recent negative comments from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other regulatory bodies as an attempt to discredit Dangote’s accomplishment and hinder the nation’s economic progress.
The NEF further criticized the political environment in Nigeria, noting that narrow political interests often overshadow national economic priorities. They commended the proactive response by the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Heineken Lokpobri, in addressing the issue.
In conclusion, the NEF reaffirmed their support for Dangote, viewing the refinery as a beacon of economic prosperity for Nigeria and pledging to stand by him in defense of this significant achievement.
