The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, has expressed concern over Dangote Refinery’s difficulties, accusing vested interests of hindering Nigeria’s progress towards ending fuel importation.
Speaking at the launch of the book Public Policy and Agents’ Interests: Perspectives from the Emerging World, co-authored by former Minister of Finance Shamshudeen Usman, Sanusi criticized the ongoing feud between Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The dispute had to do with the crude oil supply and petrol pricing.
The former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor stressed that this conflict was emblematic of a broader issue, accusing certain elites of perpetuating Nigeria’s dependency on fuel imports for personal gain.
He said:
He expressed disappointment that local refineries like Aliko Dangote were a chance for Nigeria to end decades of reliance on imported fuel, only to have the effort hindered by those profiting from importation and subsidies.
Earlier, TimesNow.com.ng reported that the administration of President Bola Tinubu officially declared it would not be involved in the pricing of petrol in Nigeria, leaving it to market forces.
Petrol at filling stations is priced between N890 and N1,200 compared to the previous N650 per litre.
The president’s special adviser, Bayo Onanuga, announced the decision while commenting on the ongoing pricing dispute. He stressed that the petroleum market was deregulated, and there was no need for the president’s intervention.
Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at TimesNow.com.ng.
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
