Africa’s wealthiest man, Aliko Dangote, said that one of his friends who began investing abroad four years ago has been teasing him about his recent struggles with the government.
Dangote has been facing challenges with the government regarding his refinery project in Lagos.
He previously described how a cabal was obstructing his efforts to import crude oil and how difficulties in obtaining products have slowed down operations.
However, last week, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) stated that the Nigerian government has not yet licensed the Dangote Refinery to start operations.
Farouk Ahmed, the CEO of NMDPRA, announced this while speaking to journalists at the State House on Thursday.
Ahmed clarified that the allegations of attempts to sabotage the Dangote Refinery’s operations due to a lack of crude oil supply from International Oil Companies were unfounded. He added that the refinery is still in the pre-commissioning stage and has not yet received its license.
Ahmed added that the diesel product of Dangote was below international standard, a claim which the businessman refuted during an interactive session at the weekend.
In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Dangote narrated how a friend whom he tried to talk into being patriotic about Nigeria is now taunting him.
“Four years ago, one of my very wealthy friends began to invest his money abroad. I disagreed with him and urged him to rethink his action in the interest of his country. He blamed his action on policy inconsistencies and shenanigans of interest groups. That friend has been taunting me in the past few days, saying he warned me and that he has been proven right,” Dangote was quoted to have said.
“As you probably know, I am 67 years old, in less than three years, I will be 70. I need very little to live the rest of my life. I can’t take the refinery or any other property or asset to my grave. Everything I do is in the interest of my country.”
“We have been facing fuel crisis since the 70s. This refinery can help in resolving the problem but it does appear some people are uncomfortable that I am in the picture. So I am ready to let go, let the NNPC buy me out, run the refinery.
“This refinery can help in resolving the problem but it does appear some people are uncomfortable that I am in the picture. So I am ready to let go, let the NNPC buy me out, run the refinery. At least the country will have high-quality products and create jobs,” he added.
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