Dr. Reuben Abati has called for President Tinubu to intervene in the conflict between the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and Dangote Refinery. He emphasized that the issue reflects poorly on Tinubu’s administration.
Abati highlighted that the administration, which promotes progressive politics and business investment, is facing an embarrassment due to NMDPRA’s handling of Dangote Refinery, the largest single-train refinery in Africa.
Abati criticized NMDPRA CEO Faruk Ahmed for claiming that the Dangote Refinery has not been licensed despite evidence that the refinery met the minimum requirements in terms of equipment and personnel. He argued that the role of a regulator is to support businesses, not hinder them, and condemned the regulator for failing to fix existing refineries while obstructing the progress of the Dangote initiative.
Drawing parallels with the challenges faced by Air Peace, Abati noted the overwhelming public support for the Dangote Refinery. He commended Dangote for overcoming obstacles and suggested that despite the opposition, the public’s favorable opinion shows that Dangote is the clear winner in this conflict.