Power Knowledgeable Urges President Tinubu to Finish Petrol Import Racket, Prioritise Native Refining

Power skilled Dan Kunle has warned that the continued importation of petrol and diesel by the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Company (NNPC) Restricted and sure entrepreneurs, regardless of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s capability to fulfill home demand, is a disservice to the nation.

Latest reviews point out that NNPC, Oil Entrepreneurs Spent N5.5tn on Petrol, Diesel Importation in 4 Months.

Talking on a programme on Come up TV on Sunday, Dan Kunle likened the large importation of petrol and diesel by NNPC and a few entrepreneurs over the previous 4 months to the infamous ‘cement Armada’—a scandal from the Nineteen Seventies, throughout Nigeria’s oil growth, the place tons of of cement-laden ships flooded the ports, inflicting years of congestion.

Kunle expressed his disappointment that, regardless of President Bola Tinubu’s directive and the Federal Govt Council’s determination to allocate native crude oil to home refineries, related authorities businesses are blatantly disregarding these directives with no penalties.

“I used to be anticipating a transition following the Federal Govt Council’s determination in October 2024 to allocate native crude to home refineries, with Dangote Refinery being the important thing participant resulting from its technical capability. Nevertheless, the scenario hasn’t modified, and we’re nonetheless seeing an enormous inflow of imported gas. It’s nonetheless a full import Armada, just like the cement Armada. The extent of imports we’re witnessing is unprecedented, elevating severe considerations about what’s actually occurring. Is it an try and flood the market, introduce substandard gas into Nigeria, and presumably frustrate Dangote Refinery? The error right here is that Dangote Refinery is operational, already refining 550,000 bpd and producing high-quality merchandise. This importation is totally pointless. It’s time to induce the president to behave and finish this petrol import racket as soon as and for all,” he acknowledged.

Kunle emphasised that it defies logic for sure people to proceed pushing for imports, particularly when nations like the US are defending home industries to spice up their very own economies. He added that the Dangote Refinery may guarantee power safety, one thing the regulatory authorities have uncared for for years.

He referred to as on President Tinubu to demand a transition timetable from the related authorities outlining when Nigeria will shift from being an importer of refined merchandise to a internet exporter. Stressing that Dangote Refinery is a strategic nationwide asset, Kunle urged the federal government to take away obstacles to its clean operation.

“The Dangote Refinery is a nationwide strategic asset. There’s no want for a court docket case. The federal authorities ought to step in. We don’t want a authorized battle; the federal government ought to ask NMDPRA for a transition timetable to maneuver us from importing petrol to self-sufficiency. If the president stays aloof, it’s going to hurt the nation. No new investments will come should you deal with an funding like Dangote’s as an enemy. The importers are the true enemies,” he mentioned.

Kunle careworn that with Dangote Refinery’s capability and the reported revival of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, Nigeria must be transitioning from reliance on oil imports to turning into a internet exporter of refined petroleum merchandise.