Aliko Dangote urges petroleum marketers to source petrol directly from his refinery, aiming to alleviate Nigeria’s fuel scarcity crisis.
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n a significant move to alleviate fuel scarcity in Nigeria, Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Group, urged petroleum marketers, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), to source petrol directly from his refinery.
This appeal comes after Dangote’s discussions with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja on Tuesday.
Also read: Dangote Refinery slashes aviation fuel imports as domestic supply surges
Dangote reassured that his refinery is poised to supply fuel, boasting a production capacity exceeding 30 million litres daily when operating at full capacity.
Currently, the facility holds an impressive 500 million litres in reserve, sufficient to meet the nation’s fuel demands for over 12 days without relying on imports.
“We’re more than ready,” Dangote stated confidently, addressing State House Correspondents. He emphasised that his refinery could significantly offset Nigeria’s fuel needs and reduce the persistent fuel scarcity affecting various regions across the country.
“We are producers. I have a refinery. I’m not in the business of retail,” he explained, underscoring his position as a manufacturer rather than a retailer.
He challenged retailers to take initiative: “I’m saying that the retailers should please come forward and pick. If they don’t, what do you want me to do? That’s something that I can do.”
Dangote expressed his frustration over the ongoing fuel queues, stating that if retailers and NNPC were to stop importing and begin sourcing fuel from his refinery, the situation would improve dramatically.
“You will not see any queues in the filling stations,” he claimed, asserting that the refinery’s operational capacity could effectively resolve the current shortages.
Highlighting the financial implications of holding such a large reserve, he noted, “I don’t know whether you understand what it takes to keep a billion litres inside our tank.
It’s costing me money every day.” He added that the ongoing situation is financially burdensome, as he incurs losses while waiting for the marketers to take delivery of the fuel.
In conclusion, Aliko Dangote’s call to action for marketers to procure petrol directly from his refinery aims to not only ensure a steady supply of fuel across Nigeria but also alleviate the burden of fuel scarcity that has plagued the country for years.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
