Dangote charges NNPCL, marketers to end petrol importation

The President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, on Tuesday urged the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and marketers across the country to stop the importation of fuel

He also proffered solution to the recurring problem of fuel scarcity in the country.

Dangote briefed State House reporters in Abuja shortly after a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the committee overseeing the implementation of crude oil and refined products sales in local currency.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun led the committee to the State House, Abuja, for the meeting.

Also at the meeting were the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the NNPCL, Mr Mele Kyari; the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji; and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Yemi Cardoso.

Others were the Authority’s Chief Executive (ACE) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mallam Farouk Ahmed and the Commission Chief Executive (CCE) of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mr. Gbenga Komolafe.

Speaking after the meeting, Dangote expressed optimism that his refinery is the solution to the lingering fuel queues across the nation.

READ ALSO: Nigeria’s petrol importation inches closer to 12 billion liters in first half 2023, says NBS

He said: “What I estimated as our daily consumption is about 30-32 million litres, that one we can even start producing by next week. That is not really an issue because as we speak today, we have 500 million litres in our tanks. With that even if there is no production anywhere or no import, that will take the country more than 12 days,” Dangote said.

“We are very ready, we are more than ready and I am also putting my name on the line that we will be able to supply the market 30 million per day and we are ramping up, so we are ready.

“So, I am expecting that the NNPCL and the marketers should stop importing, they should come and collect what they need. I don’t know if you understand what it means to keep half a billion litres in our tanks, it is costing me money. Every day if I am to collect money I can charge 32 per cent in interest. That is what I am losing, If they come and collect then you will not see any queue in the filling stations.”

By: Babaajide Okeowo

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