The senator representing Borno South, Sen. Ali Ndume, has appealed for restraint, urging stakeholders to halt what he calls a coordinated media campaign aimed at demonizing the Dangote Refinery.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the former Senate leader cautioned that the wave of accusations against the $19 billion privately-owned refinery could jeopardize national economic interests, especially since the federal government has established an equitable environment for all investors in the oil and gas sector.
Sen. Ndume’s remarks come in the wake of rising tensions between Dangote Refinery’s management and two influential groups in the oil distribution industry, the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN).
NUPENG recently initiated a strike, shutting down multiple petroleum depots nationwide to protest the Dangote Refinery’s alleged refusal to allow its truck drivers to join the union, which the union claims violated the Trade Union Act.
Meanwhile, DAPPMAN has accused the refinery of engaging in anti-competitive behavior, alleging that it sells petroleum products at lower prices to international buyers, while charging Nigerian marketers significantly higher rates.
DAPPMAN warns that this could threaten local businesses and create a monopoly in the industry.
Although the Department of State Services (DSS) has reportedly stepped in to mediate the dispute between the refinery and NUPENG, the ongoing conflict continues to stir tension and attract media attention, prompting Ndume to speak out.
In his statement from Abuja, Sen. Ndume warned against what he termed a “toxic media narrative” that portrays the Dangote Refinery as a danger to fair competition and national interests.
He emphasized that, contrary to the criticisms, the refinery embodies the kind of significant, long-term investment that Nigeria urgently needs to lessen its reliance on imported fuel and strengthen its economic resilience.
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“Before Dangote took the risk to establish his refinery, previous administrations had issued licenses to many Nigerians for similar projects.
“What did they accomplish? Some merely exploited crude oil allocation incentives without ever initiating a refinery project,” the senator said.
He recalled that as early as 2002, at least 12 licenses were granted to private sector entities to construct refineries, but these were later revoked, and new permits were issued in 2007 by the then Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).
Yet, according to him, most of the license holders did not take action.
He stated that “those who present themselves as fuel importers today failed to take the initiative to unite and build refineries.”
