The chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and marketers to purchase petrol products from his refinery.
He made this call during an in-house meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, acknowledging that his refinery has the full capacity to supply fuel to consumers for local demand.
“It’s important to understand that we are producers. I have a refinery, and I’m not in retail. If I were, you could hold me responsible. What I am saying is that the retailers should come forward and pick,” Dangote said.
He added that they are more than ready to meet up Nigerian requirements.
He said, “If they don’t, what do you want me to do? I expect the NNPC or the marketers to stop importing and come pick up the fuel we have. As they take it, I will keep pumping.”
Explaining the financial challenges his company faces, Dangote said, “It’s costing me money every day. I could charge a 32 percent interest if I could collect the naira. This situation is causing me losses.”
While emphasizing the importance and benefits of his company in delivering petrol across Nigeria, he said that the patronage will help alleviate the long queues experienced at filling stations.
By Helen Okechukwu
