Sodiq Mojibola
In the wake of providing a lasting solution to the plight of Nigerians on scarcity and hike in price of fuel, Dangote Refinery is set to begin operation of its 650,000 barrel per day producing refinery.
The facility which reportedly worth $19 billion is an integrated refinery project under construction in the Lekki Free Zone, Lagos, Nigeria.
The refinery will be producing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), diesel (AGO), aviation jet fuel and Dual-Purpose Kerosene (DPK), among other refined products.
FG, Governors, Oil marketers, economists and stakeholders have expressed optimism at the landmark achievement of the richest man in Africa.
The Dangote Refinery which sets out to be the world’s largest single-train refinery will be inaugurated by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, 22nd, 2023.
In a statement by the presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, on his Twitter handle, he said that efforts by the FG to make Nigeria self-sufficient in refining crude oil has received a major boost.
His words: “Efforts by the Federal Government to make Nigeria self-sufficient in local refining of crude oil to save the scarce foreign exchange used in the importation of petroleum products have received a boost as the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Refinery, the world’s largest single-train refinery, is set for inauguration on May 22nd, 2023, by President Muhammadu Buhari,” Ahmad announced.
The Dangote Group also posted on its Twitter account confirming the honour of having President Buhari to commission the facility.
The group said, “President Muhammadu Buhari commissions the 650,000 BPD Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals on Monday 22 May 2023. The event will be streamed live on our Youtube channel(dangotegroup). Join us for this historical moment.”
In the same vein, to mark the not only historical event of the commissioning, governors and other eminent personalities have begun to jet to Lagos, the Centre of Excellence in commemoration.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered at the time of filing this report that the Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu kwankwaso and the Governor elect of Kano State, Engineer Abba Yusuf arrived Lagos, ahead of the official commissioning of Dangote Refinery tomorrow.
Similarly, the Nassarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule has also departed for Lagos to witness the event.
…Oil To become Available, Cheaper, If Deregulated — Oil Marketers President
National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Okonkwo has also said that the operation of the Dangote Refinery would make oil available and cheaper for Nigerians.
Okonkwo stated that the kickstart of the refinery would not only enhance employment but also yield economic boost for the country if the government deregulates the commodity.
He stated, “That refinery is going to create further hope for this nation. It will create a lot of jobs and ensure availability of products. The time spent in importing petroleum products will be eliminated and Nigeria will gain a lot from it, moving forward.
“Dangote is a private businessman who is out to make money, but one thing is that if the petroleum business is deregulated, the products will be cheaper. This is because the cost of freight, carrying the crude and refining it and bringing it back as refined products will be addressed and that value alone will be an advantage for the country.
“Yes, at least it will reduce the stress around availability and affordability,” Okonkwo submitted.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria National Petroleum Commission (NNPC) Limited stated it’s reassurance of energy sufficiency by supplying 300,000 barrels of crude oil to the Dangote Refinery to kickstart it’s operation.
This was obtained in a statement from the company’s Twitter account stating it’s intention to contribute its quota to the refinery in view of it’s commissioning.
The post reads: “NNPC Limited is set to supply 300,000 barrels of crude to Dangote Refinery for the commencement of operations.
“The company’s GCEO, @MKKyari gave this assurance at the 2023 Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair organised by @OfficialNCDMB, held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
“This reassurance of energy sufficiency comes ahead of the inauguration of the Dangote Refinery.”
…Mixed Feelings As Nigerians Call For Cement Price Reduction
Nigerians have taken advantage of the situation to call for a reduction in the price of cement, being a premium product of the Dangote Group.
While lauding the establishment of the refinery, netizens expressed mixed feelings at the possibility that the Dangote Refinery would bring about a reduction in the price of oil and other premium motor spirit.
Nigerians urge Dangote to reduce the price cement which suddenly sky rocketed contrary to his promise at inception.
A Twitter user, Banimoh Othman @othmanbee, said, “Congratulations but make your products cheap. See how much we’re buying cement today! That’s so unfair. Give back to the land that has continued to empower you. Don’t be exploitative. Allow people to thrive through your growth. We pray these feats are for the greater good of all!”
Another user identified as Oya @Adeoyad, “Hope this will solve Nigeria’s petroleum refinery products problems that it will not be like dangote cement which is the most costly in the market for now.”
… Lagosians Anticipate Traffic Congestion
In view of the commissioning, Lagosians have started to envision traffic congestion in the area and environ.
The Ibeju Lekki area which will host the President, Muhammadu Buhari, Governors and several other eminent personalities from within and outside the country has been marked with a high possibility of traffic congestion.
Lagosians on twitter have started to raise alarm on the high tendency of traffic disrupting the flow of transportation as the state is set to receive high profile persons for the Innauguration of the Dangote Refinery.
A tweep translated the Dangote Group post saying, “Rephrased: Lagos Residents, brace yourself for traffic as President Muhammadu Buhari will on Monday commission the…”
In contrast to the wealth of appraisal that has been showered on the FG and the Dangote Refinery for the historical achievement, Reno Omokri took to his Twitter account to call the bluff of the President Buhari’s Eight years administration.
In the post, Reno Omokri said that Nigerians have endured the Buhari’s administration so far, staying that all his achievements so far would be insignificant when juxtaposed with Dangote’s $19 billion refinery.
The post @renoomokri, reads: “If you take General Buhari’s so-called achievements of the last eight years, as released by his media aides last week, and add them all up together, then multiply them by 20, they will still be less significant to Nigeria and Nigerians than the $19 billion Dangote Refinery scheduled to be commissioned tomorrow, Monday, May 22, 2023.
“For eight years, Nigeria endured Buhari. For the next eight years, we will enjoy Dangote. May God grant us less Buharis and more Dangotes. In Yeshua’s Name.”
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