Key figures in the South-South region have urged President Bola Tinubu to identify and punish the clandestine petrol barons sabotaging Nigeria’s refineries, including the newly established Dangote Refinery.
These stakeholders claim that these groups, benefiting from the current oil subsidy payments, are deliberately hindering the revival of other refineries to maintain their profits from fuel importation.
Joseph Ambakaderimo, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Communities’ Development Committee of the Niger Delta, highlighted the issue. He stated, “The breeze is blowing and the rump of the chicken will be exposed.” Ambakaderimo believes that the actions against the Dangote group are intentional because the refinery’s establishment disrupted certain vested interests.
Donald Inwalomhe, Executive Director of the Justice Research Centre (JRC), noted that those benefiting from the oil subsidy are conspiring to prevent the Dangote Refinery from accessing crude oil. Inwalomhe remarked, “They worked for the refineries in Warri and Port Harcourt to collapse so that they would continue to get billions of naira from the subsidy for imported petroleum products.”
Inwalomhe also pointed out that these groups are working against the operationalization of modular refineries, which could significantly reduce Nigeria’s dependency on imported petroleum products. He called on state governors and the National Assembly to support the Dangote Refinery and ensure it becomes fully operational.
Zik Gbemre, Coordinator of the Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC), described the situation as a conspiracy aimed at maintaining high fuel prices. He questioned why regulators, who had previously approved the Dangote Refinery as the best in Africa, were now creating obstacles.
Dr. Onyienfie Jonjon, former president of the Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC), emphasized the economic interests behind the conflict between Dangote and industry regulators. He suggested that President Tinubu should facilitate a meeting between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and Dangote Refinery to resolve the crisis.
Presley Idi, Secretary of the Ndokwa National Youth Movement (NNYM), criticized the public outburst by Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) chief executive Adamu Farouk against the Dangote Refinery. Idi suggested that the issue could have been resolved privately and that there are hidden motives behind the scenes.
Human rights activist Saviour Akpan described the situation as a diversionary tactic to prevent Nigerians from asking pertinent questions. He urged citizens to demand accountability and transparency from policymakers.
Iniruo Wills, Co-Convener of Embassara Foundation, advised that dispute resolution mechanisms should be robustly explored and enforced. He questioned whether there was proper planning and due diligence before the refinery’s completion.
Former Bayelsa State commissioner Surv Furoebi Akene accused the Nigerian petroleum industry of insincerity and fraud. He called for a government probe into the activities of refineries and regulatory agencies to bring culprits to justice.
Also, Festus Oritsetimeyin, a stakeholder in Warri, Delta State, noted that the ongoing conflicts are revealing hidden interests and deals in the oil and gas sector. He emphasized the importance of addressing these issues for the benefit of the nation.
