Fani-Kayode also said what Nigerians need is for NNPCL, Dangote and other refineries in the country to flourish
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nigeria’s former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has aimed a subtle dig at Business mogul, Aliko Dangote, while tackling critics of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
He was reacting to some elements within the country’s oil and gas sector, whom he accused of trying to undermine and understate the gains of revitalizing the Port Harcourt Refinery.
TheNiche earlier in the week reported that the NNPCL announced the commencement of petroleum product production at the Port Harcourt Refinery.
However, after the news made the rounds, some Nigerians doubted the viability of the state owned refinery.
Timothy Mgbere, Secretary of the Alesa community stakeholders, in an interview on Arise Television on Thursday alleged that the refinery trucked out old stock, not freshly refined petroleum products.
Addressing the innuendos via his X handle on Thursday, Fani-Kayode, noted that the oil business is not the same thing as selling sugar, spaghetti, and cement.
He went on to finger some elements in the oil and gas industry as those responsible for the campaign of calumny aimed at discrediting the Group Managing Director of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the commencement of Port Harcourt Refinery after years of being in comatose.
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He further stressed that the Port Harcourt Refinery is a great victory for Nigeria, adding what Nigerians need is for NNPCL, Dangote and other refineries in the country to flourish.
Speaking via his verified social media page, Fani-Kayode tweeted, “The resurrection of the PH refinery is one of the most encouraging things that has happened in the petroleum sector for many years, and the credit for this must go to the President and the GMD of NNPC.
“It is a pity that some elements in the private sector who are new in the field are doing all they can to undermine and understate this great victory for Nigeria.
“The oil business is not the same as selling sugar, spaghetti, cement, or rice, and no matter how hard you try, you cannot muscle your way and create a monopoly on the sale of refined products as you did for other commodities over the years.”.
He added: “NNPC will go from strength to strength, and once its other refineries are working as well, Nigerians will have cause to smile again. Let the new kid on the block flourish, but let the NNPC refineries flourish too. That should be our goal and not a squalid attempt to discredit NNPC and its leadership.
“Every optimistic and true lover of Nigeria’s progress and President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda must be proud of the GMD Mele Kyari. His tenacity, bravery, ingenuity, and forthrightness have been rewarded with this great feat. Surely this is hope renewed for Nigerians.”
Meanwhile, despite not naming the president of Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote in his post, a lot of Nigerians believe Fani-Kayode’s comments were directed at the businessman.