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- King Dakolo says Niger Delta people behind him
By Gabriel Dike
The Ambassador of #GrowNairaBuyNaija campaign, Reno Omokri, has warned against any attempt by individuals or groups to disrupt the operations of Dangote Refinery.
Omokri, who toured the facilities of Dangote with the Chairman, Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council, King Dakolo Bubaraye Dakolo, called on Nigerians to resist any attempt by some people to disrupt the operations of the Dangote Refinery.
King Dakolo, who took a similar position, said the Niger Delta people stands with Dangote and also kicked against attempt to stall his business.
Omokri explained Dangote Refinery is the second independence Nigeria has secured and that if the operations are allowed to run smoothly without unnecessary interference, it would boost the economy of the country.
According to him, about 650 ships have loaded crude oil to foreign countries and Dangote Fertilizer is also exporting Urea to other countries.
“If you have come here in the 70s, 80s and 90s, this was a virgin land. This facility was built by Alhaji Aliko Dangote from scratch. The Urea is used to produce fertilizer. This ship berthed in the dock, is headed to Houston.
“It is important, we come together to ensure this $20billion investment. Let the regulatory body frame better laws. Nigerians should patronize Dangote’s products. The unions should cooperate with him so that his business are not disrupted.”
Omokri disclosed that his visit to Dangote has opened his eyes, noting that the businessman has increased the GDP of Lagos and Nigeria, adding, “the only way our Naira will raise is when we produce for export.”
He said the government approved 30 refinery licenses and only Dangote has taken off and described the refinery as a Nigerian project, which must be protected.
Omokri made a passionate appeal to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSN) to steer clear of Dangote’s and urged the union to embrace dialogue.
He also appealed to the Federal Government to remove any bottleneck trying to disrupt the operations of Dangote. He observed that the refinery is not a drain on the nation’s power usage as Dangote is producing enough electricity to run the refinery and other businesses.
Omokri revealed that two years ago, he started a campaign to ensure Nigerian patronized local products, stating, Nigerians spend at least N6million dollars to import clothes. We should encourage Nigerians to buy petroleum produced by Dangote. We are now the number one exporter of petroleum in West Africa.”
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In his contribution, King Dakolo, said the Niger-Delta people stands with local manufacturing and distribution. The Niger-Delta stands with Dangote and would resist any effort to disrupt his business.
Dakolo stressed that after years of not making the best of its natural resources, God has raised a man like Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the Dangote Refinery to end the distortions in the value chain of Nigeria’s oil and gas downstream industry, by making local refining of our resources a possibility.
“Let me be clear: The Niger Delta and Nigeria, in general, benefit and profit more when Nigeria’s oil and gas are locally refined and globally marketed,” he noted.
The monarch commended Dangote and urged the federal, state, and local governments, the organised private sector, and most especially unions to cooperate with him as he refines locally.
His words: “Specifically, the Niger Delta urges PENGASSAN to understand our pains and not erode our gains.”
“It is preposterous for any organisation or individual to accuse Alhaji Dangote or the Dangote Refinery of being a monopoly. The industry is open, and anybody or a group can enter it.
Thirty licenses were given out for refineries, some of which are modular, including the BUA 200,000 capacity per day. With what is happening to Dangote, no right-thinking bank or investor will back any additional refining capacity.”
Dakolo further noted that the Dangote Refinery’s policy of not waiting for the government but importing CNG vehicles to facilitate the national distribution of premium motor spirits is a welcome development, one that should not be frustrated by the selfishness of any individual or group.
“No individual or corporation has been as responsible for stabilising petrol prices as Alhaji Dangote and the Dangote Refinery in the last year. In doing that, they have caused succour to occur in society.
Unionism should be voluntary, not mandatory. Nigerians should unionise against the cabals that promote continued dependence on imports to meet our petrol needs, rather than organising against the interests of local product manufacturing, Dakolo noted.
Vice President of Dangote Oil and Gas, Mr. Edwin Devakumar, urged the Federal Government to protect local industries.
He said Nigerians should be proud of having the biggest private refinery and the vision of Dangote is that Nigeria should be net exporter of oil.
Devakumar revealed that Dangote also exports cement and fertilizer to other countries adding that Dangote is producing many value added materials from petroleum.
