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NYAGGI Warns Against Sabotage Of Dangote $20 Billion Refinery In Lagos
The group argued that protecting Dangote and other local refineries was in the country’s best interest and any attempt to sabotage it is not in the best interest of the country.
The Nigeria Youth Advocacy for Good Governance Initiative (NYAGGI) has warned against apparent attempt to sabotage the $20 billion worth Dangote refinery situated in Lagos State, stating it will be a bad omen for Nigeria.
The group said attempts to frustrate the refinery from coming onstream would spell doom for Nigeria if allowed.
The group argued that protecting Dangote and other local refineries was in the country’s best interest and any attempt to sabotage it is not in the best interest of the country.
The leader of the group, Comrade Ambassador Shuaibu Abdulkadir applauded President Tinubu over the directive that crude oil be sold to the Dangote Refinery in Naira, stating that the Dangote Refinery’s success would propel Nigeria towards economic self-reliance in the oil and gas sector and possibly establish the country as a key player in the global petroleum industry.
Abdulkadir said it is a clear contradiction that after investing over $20 billion, the refinery was being left with no option than to import crude oil while the international oil companies (IOCs), in collaboration with some regulatory bodies in the oil and gas industry had created a market structure that favours exporting “our crude and importing refined products.”
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The group in a press conference held in Abuja on Thursday, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure the speedy implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
NYAGGI argued that it is in the best interests of the country that Dangote and other local refineries are protected.
Applauding President Tinubu for giving directive that crude oil be sold to the Dangote Refinery in Naira, NYAGGI stressed that Dangote Refinery’s success will not only propel Nigeria towards economic self-reliance in the oil and gas industry but will also establish the country as a key player in the global petroleum industry.
Stressing that the leadership of the IOCs, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and the NMDPRA must be held accountable for any acts of sabotage.
“It is crucial to ensure the success of indigenous initiatives like the Dangote Refinery, which are vital to our nation’s economic sovereignty and sustainable development,” it noted.
“Nigeria must firmly reject the exploitative practice of being a dumping ground for substandard and harmful products. The current model—where IOCs extract raw materials from Nigeria, generate wealth and employment abroad, and then flood our markets with overpriced refined products—is unsustainable and detrimental to our national development.
“The operational success of the Dangote Refinery, evidenced by a reduction in diesel prices, underscores its potential to lower the cost of petroleum products nationwide. This potential benefit is precisely what certain foreign interests seek to undermine, preferring a dysfunctional Nigerian refining sector to maintain their exploitative practices.
“The Dangote Refinery was conceived and built to change the narrative in Nigeria’s industrial sector, particularly in oil refining. It stands as a clear statement that we have the capacity and the will to control our resources and dictate the terms of our economic future. We must not let this opportunity slip through our fingers due to the actions of a few who prioritize profit over national interest.”
The rights group called for a thorough investigation into the operations of the NNPCL to establish the current state of our oil production capacity.
It also called for the immediate suspension of Mele Kolo Kyari to facilitate an investigation into all acts of sabotage within the oil and gas sector in the country, the group stressed the need for a comprehensive probe into the importation of substandard products to prevent future occurrences.
Additionally, the group called on the authorities to mandate that all raw materials extracted in Nigeria must be refined within our borders to maximize job creation and economic benefits.