Following the trends on what can be seen as “control over possible progress” of Nigeria by the political and selfish interests of many government-immune individuals, the petroleum sector has been in a state of “DEGRADING”. Bugging questions started going viral, and many citizens who admire a stronger and better nation covered with equity and void of oppression pondered on the actions of some government appointees especially in the Ministry of Petroleum and other underground beneficiaries. Crude oil is a vital natural resource in the country, and since its discovery, its role as a powerful driver of the economy has been paramount. Pandemonium erupted months after “Aliko Dangote”, a notable businessman in the country came up with the brilliant idea of solving a longstanding problem. The cost of petroleum was on the increase because oil is not refined within but exported for refining and sold back to Nigeria at a higher rate. Dangote saw this as a pressing issue and decided to capitalize on this opportunity and help out. Before his idea, the Federal Government of Nigeria had 3 major already existing refineries in the country but at some point, these refineries abruptly ceased to function due to siphoning of funds meant for maintenance and upgrading.
After completing a refinery that can produce 650,000 barrels per day in Lagos Nigeria, it looked as if the topmost solution had emerged but the opposite seemed to be the case.
Mele Kyari, the 1st Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), pulled some strings and reacted to the massive support of the Dangote Refinery. As the issue looms, it got people talking and crying aloud and actions like the organized “#EndBadGovernance” protest followed.
Kyari’s words after accusations:
“We do not lie to this country. And we do nothing to sabotage the economic interests of this country. As a matter of fact, NNPC is the economic interest of this country.”
“I am inundated by enquiries from family members, friends and associates on the public declaration by the President of Dangote Group that some NNPC workers have established a blending plant in Malta thereby impeding procurements from local production of Petroleum products,” he said.
“To clarify the allegations regarding the blending plant, I do not own or operate any business directly or by proxy anywhere in the world with the exception of a local mini Agric venture”
“Neither am I aware of any employee of the NNPC that owns or operates a blending plant in Malta or anywhere else in the world.
“A blending plant in Malta or any part of the world has no influence over NNPC’s business operations and strategic actions.
“For further assurance, our compliance sanction grid shall apply to any NNPC employee who is established to be involved in doing so if availed and I strongly recommend that such individuals be declared public and be made known to relevant government security agencies for necessary actions in view of the grave implications for national energy security.”
After all these words the selling price of premium Motor Spirit (PMS) across the country continued to be on the increase as the Dangote Refinery has been under subjection by the government regulatory bodies and influence of marketers in the industry to declare lifting price from the new Dangote Refinery.
As the price fluctuates, the government is still reluctantly allowing marketers to do as they wish and this has continued to inflate the cost of transportation and food items in the country. Hardship, disease, and starvation now control the lives of the common man out there as a result of these actions.
