Stop importing fuel, we can meet local need, Dangote urges marketers

Stop importing fuel, we can meet local need, Dangote urges marketers

Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has urged petroleum marketers, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, to stop importing petrol, adding that his refinery has enough fuel to meet local demand.

Dangote spoke with State House correspondents on Tuesday about the refinery’s readiness to supply fuel after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Villa, Abuja.

He said, “I’m also putting my own name on the line by giving Mr President my word that we will be able to supply the market a minimum of 30 million per day, and we’ll be ramping up. So we’re ready. We’re more than ready.”

Dangote said the fuel queues at filling stations in some states including Abuja would fizzle out the next day if the marketers would agree to take the product from his refinery.

“I am expecting either NNPC or the marketers to stop importing; they should come and pick because we have what they need,” he said.

According to him, the refinery currently holds 500 million litres of fuel in reserve, enough to supply the country for over 12 days without imports.

Speaking on the concerns about fuel scarcity in several parts of the country, he said, “One thing that you have to understand is that we are producers. I have a refinery. I’m not in the business of retail. If I’m in the business of retail then you hold me responsible.

“But what I’m saying is that the retailers should please come forward and pick. If they don’t come forward and pick, what do you want me to do?”