“Fuel Importers Plotting Against Dangote Refinery”
By ESTHER McWILLIS-IKHIDE
BORNO South Senator Ali Ndume has accused fuel importers of orchestrating a smear campaign against the Dangote Refinery, dismissing claims of monopoly in Nigeria’s oil market.
In a statement on Wednesday, the APC senator said importers failed to build refineries despite multiple licences issued by past governments but are now “ganging up” against Dangote.
“Before Dangote took the risk, licences were granted to private investors in 2002 and 2007. What did they do with them? Most only benefited from crude allocations without building a single refinery,” Ndume said.
His comments come after NUPENG, backed by the NLC and NARTO, accused Dangote and MRS Oil founder Sayyu Dantata of monopolising fuel distribution and suppressing workers’ rights. The union suspended its planned nationwide strike on September 9 after the refinery agreed to recognise workers’ right to unionise.
Ndume maintained that Nigeria’s downstream sector remains deregulated and urged unions and regulators to engage constructively.
“It is wrong to talk about monopoly in a deregulated industry. No player has been given undue advantage. We must balance labour rights with national development,” he said.
