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Dangote Warns Against ‘Monopoly’ Claims, Says Refinery Soon To Be Open For Nigerian Investors.
The Founder of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has cautioned against the use of “monopoly” allegations to discourage indigenous investment and industrial growth in Nigeria, emphasizing that no one is restricted from investing in the country’s economy.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Speaking at the 2025 Inaugural Annual Downstream Petroleum Week organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Dangote—represented by the Group Chief Strategy Officer of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliyu Suleman—urged stakeholders to focus on policies that promote productivity, competition, and innovation.
According to Nivo News, Dangote maintained that the refinery’s operations symbolize a commitment to national development rather than dominance, insisting that other investors are welcome to participate in the sector. “Too many people with the means to build industries chose instead to invest abroad. We chose differently. We chose to build here, to employ here, to produce here. No one is prevented from investing. We welcome others to build their own refineries,” he said.
He noted that Nigeria holds a competitive advantage in refining due to its proximity to oil and gas supply and called for collaborative efforts to strengthen the downstream sector through effective legislation and implementation.
Dangote revealed that the refinery, which currently meets all of Nigeria’s diesel and jet fuel demand with surplus for exports, will soon be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange to allow citizens to become shareholders in what he described as a “national asset.”
Highlighting Africa’s refining deficit, he explained that while Europe and Asia refine over 95 percent of their petroleum needs, Africa refines only 40 percent, largely due to the capital-intensive nature and technological complexity of refining. “At Dangote, we are known for taking bold steps and creating value locally. Building our refinery was challenging but necessary for Nigeria’s progress,” he said.
He disclosed that the refinery can meet 90 percent of Nigeria’s petrol needs based on official consumption figures and stressed the importance of prioritizing domestic refining to conserve foreign exchange and strengthen the economy.
Dangote added that the refinery’s products are of superior quality and priced below import parity levels, giving Nigerians access to affordable fuel. He, however, lamented that despite the refinery’s production capacity, Nigeria still imports petroleum products, a situation he described as “a paradox that must be addressed.”
He emphasized the wider economic benefits of local refining, including job creation, industrial linkages, skill development, and stronger engineering capacity. He also called for cost-efficient product distribution, collaboration with maritime agencies to reduce coastal transport expenses, and the establishment of Nigeria as a regional refining hub.
Speaking at the same event, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, urged stakeholders to work together to reposition the downstream sector for transparency, innovation, and sustainable growth. He described the operational takeoff of the Dangote Refinery as a major step toward Nigeria’s energy self-sufficiency.
The Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, also commended Dangote’s contribution to the nation’s industrialization, describing the refinery as a symbol of Nigeria’s transformation into an energy-exporting nation. He announced plans for a Refinery Protection and Promotion Bill to classify refineries as strategic national assets and protect local investments.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, lauded the collaboration between the Executive and Legislature, saying consistent policy implementation and private sector participation were essential to reforming Nigeria’s petroleum and gas industries.
Ekpo also highlighted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Decade of Gas Initiative, which aim to expand gas infrastructure, deepen domestic utilization, and promote cleaner energy sources. He stressed that Nigeria’s downstream transformation required joint efforts from government and private investors to ensure affordability, accessibility, and sustainability in the nation’s energy future.
A founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, has identified what he described as the biggest political mistake made by African Democratic Congress (ADC)....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Okechukwu argued that Atiku’s biggest political error was allowing former President Olusegun Obasanjo to secure a second term in office.
Atiku, who served as Obasanjo’s deputy, had reportedly nursed a presidential ambition ahead of the 2003 general election but eventually abandoned the plan to allow the former president to seek re-election.
Speaking with journalists on Sunday, Okechukwu highlighted some of what he considered political missteps in Atiku’s quest to become Nigeria’s president.
He said, “Atiku’s third unforced political error appeared to mirror his first in 2003, when he hurried into a presidential ambition rather than exercising patience in the established political tradition of the Fulani I know, by allowing President Olusegun Obasanjo to complete his constitutionally permitted second term.
“The second unforced error was when His Excellency breached Section 7 of the PDP Constitution and the subsisting rotation convention between North and South in 2023.”
The APC chieftain maintained that the ongoing crisis within the ADC offered another lesson on the importance of patience and strategic political engagement.
He argued that effective political strategy goes beyond assembling a political team, stressing the importance of timing, respect for the rule of law, established conventions and conflict management.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, has said the factional National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nafiu Bala Gombe, has damaged the widely promoted image of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as a master political strategist.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Okechukwu made the remark following revelations that Atiku had not contacted Bala amid the leadership crisis rocking the ADC.
Speaking with BBC Radio, Bala disclosed that despite the political crisis within the party, Atiku had never held a meeting with him.
“Atiku hasn’t contacted me even though he comes from my area. I went to court with just the constitution,” Bala said.
He added, “I said to everyone that if they had followed the correct steps, the court would have decided in their favour.
“But if we are correct, then we deserve our rights.”
Reacting to the development while addressing journalists on Sunday, Okechukwu argued that Bala’s revelation had undermined Atiku’s reputation as a skilled political strategist.
According to the APC chieftain, Atiku should have considered it important to privately engage Bala, particularly given their shared political background and family ties.
He said: “You would think that a politician who is always praised by his supporters as a skilled strategist would have seen it as very important to talk to Gombe privately, especially since they share the same local political background and family history.
“It seems strange that Atiku didn’t take such a simple political step, especially when the ADC crisis kept going on, which makes people wonder about the real skill of the so-called master strategist.”
Thousands of supporters took to the streets of Potiskum on Sunday as the campaign motorcade of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, passed through the town, attracting a large crowd of men, women and youths.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
REPHRASE THIS……The Network of Civil Society Groups has announced plans to identify and publicly promote credible candidates across political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging Nigerians to prioritise individual competence and integrity over party affiliation.
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The group said the initiative would provide voters with information about contestants whose records, leadership qualities and policy proposals demonstrate commitment to democratic values, inclusive representation and public accountability.
In a press statement signed on behalf of the network by Emmanuel Olowu Aiyedun, titled “2027: Supporting Persons, Not Parties; Advancing Democratic Pluralism, Inclusive Representation and Accountability,” the organisation said it aims to encourage issue-based electoral choices, political diversity and effective representation at the federal, state and local government levels.
“The initiative is necessary as Nigerians continue to grapple with economic difficulties, rising living costs and challenges in accessing affordable food, reliable electricity, quality healthcare, education and employment opportunities.”
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The organisation stated that citizens should evaluate political aspirants based on their personal records, integrity, competence, leadership experience, public conduct and proposed policies rather than their political parties.
It warned against blind political loyalty, noting that religious sentiments, ethnic affiliations, financial inducements and longstanding party attachment should not determine electoral decisions.
According to the statement, “While political parties remain important democratic institutions, party affiliation should not replace individual credibility, integrity, character, competence and a demonstrable record of public service.”
“We maintain that allowing candidates from different political parties and ideological backgrounds to participate in governance would strengthen democratic institutions, encourage constructive debates and promote checks and balances.”
As part of its planned activities, the organisation said it would organise civic education programmes, public engagements and discussions to enable voters to examine candidates’ backgrounds, policy proposals and commitments to public service.
It added that selected contestants from different political parties would be featured through candidate engagements, public interviews, policy discussions and media outreach to give Nigerians access to information about their leadership capacity and proposed contributions to governance.
The Network also called on political parties, aspirants, civil society organisations and the media to promote issue-based campaigns.
While urging Nigerians to reject vote-buying, ethnic divisions, religious manipulation and other forms of electoral inducement, it stressed the need for the 2027 elections to produce effective representation and accountable leadership responsive to citizens’ needs.
The Network of Civil Society Groups has unveiled plans to identify and publicly promote credible candidates across political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging Nigerians to consider individual competence and integrity rather than party affiliation when choosing their leaders.
The organisation said the initiative would provide voters with information about candidates whose track records, leadership abilities and policy proposals reflect a commitment to democratic values, inclusive representation and public accountability.
In a press statement signed by Emmanuel Olowu Aiyedun on behalf of the network, titled “2027: Supporting Persons, Not Parties; Advancing Democratic Pluralism, Inclusive Representation and Accountability,” the group said the initiative was designed to promote issue-based voting, political diversity and effective representation at the federal, state and local government levels.
It noted that the initiative had become necessary as Nigerians continued to face economic challenges, rising living costs and difficulties accessing affordable food, reliable electricity, quality healthcare, education and employment opportunities.
The organisation urged citizens to assess political aspirants based on their personal records, integrity, competence, leadership experience, public conduct and proposed policies rather than the parties they represent.
It also cautioned against blind political loyalty, stressing that religious sentiments, ethnic affiliations, financial inducements and longstanding attachment to political parties should not influence electoral decisions.
“While political parties remain important democratic institutions, party affiliation should not replace individual credibility, integrity, character, competence and a demonstrable record of public service,” the statement read.
The network further argued that allowing candidates from different political parties and ideological backgrounds to participate in governance would strengthen democratic institutions, encourage constructive debates and promote checks and balances.
As part of its planned activities, the organisation said it would organise civic education programmes, public engagements and discussions to help voters examine candidates’ backgrounds, policy proposals and commitment to public service.
It added that selected candidates from different political parties would be featured through public engagements, interviews, policy discussions and media outreach to give Nigerians more information about their leadership capacity and proposed contributions to governance.
The Network also called on political parties, aspirants, civil society organisations and media outlets to promote issue-based campaigns ahead of the elections.
It urged Nigerians to reject vote-buying, ethnic divisions, religious manipulation and other forms of electoral inducement, emphasising the need for the 2027 elections to produce effective representation and accountable leadership that responds to citizens’ needs.
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