Nigerian Refinery in Jeopardy: Social Critic Sounds the Alarm
Aisha Yesufu, a prominent social and political critic, has issued a dire warning, saying that Nigeria “kills its own.” Her statement comes in response to concerns about the quality of petroleum products produced by the Dangote refinery, which has not yet been licensed to operate in the country.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) revealed that the refinery is still in the pre-commissioning stage and has not been licensed yet, citing concerns about the quality of products produced by the facility. NMDPRA’s Chief Executive Officer, Farouk Ahmed, further stated that the quality of the refined petroleum products is inferior to those imported from abroad.
Yesufu appealed for Nigerians to rally together and ensure the success of the Dangote refinery, emphasizing that this was not just about the refinery itself but also about the countless businesses that are stifled by a system that favors those with connections.
“How dreams are stolen and destroyed. Just yesterday LandMark got its share, and there was silence from the business community,” she said.
Yesufu also lamented that Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the CEO of Dangote, was now facing the same challenges that Nigerian business people with no government connections have always faced, only to be met with silence and apathy.
“When you speak up when others are affected, it is to ensure that a stop is put to such injustice so it never gets to you,” she urged.
With the future of the Dangote refinery hanging in the balance, Yesufu’s words serve as a timely reminder of the need for collective action to drive meaningful change in Nigeria’s business environment.
