Aisha Yesufu urges Tinubu, others to speak up for Dangote Refinery for Nigeria not to kill it
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Activist Aisha Yesufu has lamented how “Nigeria kills its own” as being replayed in the Dangote Refinery saga that reels out sabotage, blackmail, and corruption to derail a $20 billion facility the richest man in Africa conceived to end fuel imports and save hard currency for Nigeria to grow its economy.
Yesufu appealed to Nigerians not to allow the refinery owned by Aliko Dangote to fail by joining hands to ensure it succeeds.
Her statement comes on the heels of government officials, ostensibly representing Bola Tinubu, President and Petroleum Minister, who have lobbied various allegations and attacks at the refinery before and after Dangote went public on how the refinery is being sabotaged by folks within and outside the country.
Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) Chief Executive Officer Farouk Ahmed released a bombshell last Thursday that the refinery has not been licensed to begin operations, even though it was commissioned in May 2023 by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Ahmed also alleged without evidence that diesel produced at Dangote Refinery is inferior to imported ones. Besides, he alleged Dangote the man is angling to be a fuel monopoly the government cannot permit.
Tinubu has not spoken up against the attacks. Dangote disclosed over the weekend that he is willing “to let go of refinery to let NNPC run it.”
X user @Oluseun Onigbinde demanded the regulator be sanctioned for the claim against Dangote Refinery and Yesufu weighed in by urging other Nigerians to speak up.
“Nigeria kills its own. I truly agree with you [@Oluseu Onigbinde], the refinery should not fail. All hands should be on deck to ensure it succeeds,” Yesufu said.
“Alhaji Dangote @AlikoDangote now feels what Nigerian business people with no government connections have always felt and gone through.
“How dreams are stolen and destroyed. Just yesterday LandMark got its share and there was silence from the business community.
“When you speak up when others are affected, it is to ensure that a stop is put to such injustice so it never gets to you.”
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