Arise Television anchor Rufai Oseni has credited former President Muhammadu Buhari and ex-Central Bank of Nigeria governor Godwin Emefiele for the successful establishment of the Dangote Refinery, disputing claims that the project is an achievement of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Oseni made the remarks on Monday while responding to comments by Nigeria Revenue Service Chairman Zacch Adedeji, who appeared on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme the previous day. Adedeji had highlighted the Tinubu administration’s economic performance, citing increased government revenue and the growing contribution of the Dangote Refinery to local fuel supply.
Oseni argued the refinery was largely enabled by policies and economic conditions under the Buhari administration, particularly the relative stability of the naira during Emefiele’s tenure as CBN governor.
“When they try to say Dangote Refinery is a product of this administration? It’s not a product of this administration,” Oseni said. “It was the same Buhari administration that kept Naira stable, and the Emefiele they call names today was the one that kept Naira stable so that Dangote would be able to build that refinery.”
Oseni also said the government had failed to meet some crude supply commitments made to the refinery. “Do you know that Dangote still has to go and buy Nigerian crude on the international market and bring it back?” he asked.
The broadcaster acknowledged the Tinubu administration had recorded some economic gains but said the government must also account for the impact of its policies on Nigerians and businesses.
“Yes, it got some wins. I mean, we don’t shy away from that, but also the debilitating effect of what was done on the Economy is something we’ve not recovered from,” Oseni said. He cited corporate sector foreign exchange losses of over 3 trillion naira and a GDP impact of over 100 billion dollars, adding that the individual cost on citizens’ lives remains unaccounted for.