A former Nigerian Minister of Tourism and Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has taunted Aliko Dangote, telling him that oil business is different from selling sugar and cement.
Fani-Kayode also took on critics of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited [NNPC Ltd] over the ressurection of Port Harcourt Refinery, which began production and truck out on Tuesday, this week.
He stated his positions in a post on his X handle on Thursday, Novem et 28, 2024.
He alleged that some elements within the private sector in the oil and gas industry wanted to undermine and understate the revitalisation of the Port Harcourt Refinery.
He said that the oil business was not the same thing as selling sugar, spaghetti, and cement, in apparent, direct reference to Aliko Dangote, president of Dangote Refinery.
Fani-Kayode fingered some elements in the private sector of the industry as responsible for the campaign of calumny to discredit 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.
He said that the Port Harcourt Refinery was a great victory for Nigeria.
According to him, what Nigerians needed was for NNPC Ltd’s refineries to flourish, and the same for Dangote Refinery and others.
He said, “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 underestimate 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.”
