…Calls for Action Against Petrol Barons Disrupting Dangote Refinery Operations
Prominent figures from the South-South region have called on President Bola Tinubu to identify and penalize individuals sabotaging Nigeria’s refinery operations, including those targeting the newly established Dangote Refinery. They allege that a collusion between oil industry regulators and vested interests is behind the current challenges.
**Joseph Ambakaderimo: “Expose the Saboteurs”**
Joseph Ambakaderimo, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Niger Delta Communities’ Development Committee, emphasized that recent actions against the Dangote group are deliberate attempts to disrupt its operations. He urged the government to expose and punish those responsible for sabotaging the refineries.
**Donald Inwalomhe: “Stop the Oil Industry Mafia”**
Donald Inwalomhe, Executive Director of the Justice Research Centre (JRC), accused subsidy beneficiaries of blocking the Dangote Refinery’s access to crude oil to maintain their profits from imports. He called on state governors, national assembly members, and President Tinubu to support the refinery and ensure its success.
**Zik Gbemre: “A Conspiracy to Maintain High Fuel Prices”**
Zik Gbemre, Coordinator of the Niger Delta Peace Coalition, described the situation as a conspiracy by greedy stakeholders to induce continued fuel price hikes. He questioned the timing of the regulatory issues faced by the Dangote Refinery, which had been previously approved as the best in Africa.
**Dr. Onyienfie Jonjon: “Resolve the Economic Interests”**
Former Ijaw Youth Congress president Dr. Onyienfie Jonjon suggested that the misunderstanding between Dangote and regulators is driven by economic interests. He urged President Tinubu to mediate between the parties to find an amicable resolution.
**Presley Idi: “More Than Meets the Eye”**
Presley Idi, Secretary of the Ndokwa National Youth Movement, criticized the public outburst by the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) against Dangote Refinery, suggesting that it creates unnecessary global negative perception. He believes the issue could have been resolved privately.
**Saviour Akpan: “A Diversionary Tactic”**
Human rights activist Saviour Akpan described the friction between Aliko Dangote and regulators as a tactic to divert public attention from underlying issues. He urged Nigerians to ask pertinent questions and hold policymakers accountable.
**Iniruo Wills: “Explore Dispute Resolution Mechanisms”**
Iniruo Wills, Co-Convener of Embassara Foundation, called for the enforcement of dispute resolution mechanisms within contractual agreements. He highlighted the importance of proper business planning and feedstock commitments for the success of the refinery.
**Surv Furoebi Akene: “Probe the Operators”**
Former Bayelsa State commissioner Surv Furoebi Akene accused the Nigerian petroleum industry of high-level fraud and economic sabotage. He called for a federal probe into the activities of refinery operators and regulatory agencies to ensure accountability.
**Festus Oritsetimeyin: “Expose Hidden Deals”**
Warri stakeholder Festus Oritsetimeyin stated that the current disputes in the oil sector reveal underlying personal interests and greed. He stressed the need for transparency and accountability in the licensing and operation of refineries.
The stakeholders collectively urged President Tinubu and relevant authorities to take decisive action to ensure the smooth operation of the Dangote Refinery and other modular refineries to reduce Nigeria’s dependency on imported petroleum products and revive the South-South’s economy.
