Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest man and president of Dangote Refinery, has reiterated that the ‘cabal’ in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is still working against the progress of his 650,000 barrels per day plant.
This was revealed by Dangote at an investor forum in Lagos over the weekend, as reported by Semafor, a global news platform.
He said, “For a very, very long time, those that have made a lot of money from government-subsidised oil imports into Nigeria were the ones trying to sabotage the $20 billion worth of refinery situated in Lekki, Lagos.”
He further stressed that “those groups have funded resistance to the Bola Tinubu government’s removal of petrol subsidies and are opposed to the refinery operating easily in the country.”
However, Dangote was confident that the battle between him and the groups would be won, priding himself on being a long-time fighter.
“We’re fighting, and the fight is not yet finished. But I have been fighting all my life, and I am ready and 100 percent sure I will win at the end of the day,” he was quoted.
It is worth noting that Dangote Refinery began selling petrol in September 2024, resulting in a significant decrease in fuel imports to Nigeria.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had previously announced the removal of fuel subsidies during his inauguration speech in May 2023.
