‘Oil business not selling cement, sugar’, Fani-Kayode mocks Dangote

Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has celebrated the recent revamping of the Port Harcourt Refinery by mocking business mogul and owner of the Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote, pointing out that doing business in the oil sector is different from the commodity trading.

The chieftain of All Progressive Congress (APC) who is also known as FFK, while reacting to criticism from some Nigerians that the Port Harcourt Refinery is only blending and not refining fresh petroleum products, alleged that some elements within the private sector in the oil and gas industry want to undermine and understate the revitalisation of the refinery.

In a post on his official X handle, FFK particularly noted that the oil business is not the same thing as selling sugar, spaghetti, and cement, in apparent reference to Dangote, the President of Dangote Refinery.

He also insinuated that some elements in the private sector of the oil industry do not want Nigerian owned refineries to work and are responsible for a 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.

“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,” he wrote.

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“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 understate 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.

“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 has been rewarded with this great feat. Surely this is hope renewed for Nigerians.”

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