Private Refinery Owner Who Created Monopoly In Cement And Sugar Behind Media Attacks On Port-Harcourt Refinery – Fani-Kayode
Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has hinted at an on-going effort to undermine the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) on the rehabilitation of the Port-Harcourt Refinery, accusing a refinery owner who “created a monopoly in Cement, Spagetti, and Sugar” of sponsoring media attacks against the revamp of the government-owned refinery.
In a veiled reference to the billionaire, Fani-Kayode claimed on his X post on Thursday, that the private sector elements new to the oil business are trying to undermine the achievement of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) in resurrecting the Port Harcourt refinery.
According to Fani-Kayode, the rehabilitation of the refinery is a significant victory for Nigeria, and credit should go to the President and the NNPC’s Managing Director, Mele Kyari.
While saying that oil business is different from other commodities, Fani-Kayode noted that “no matter how hard you (Dangote) try, you cannot muscle your way and create a monopoly on the sale of refined products as you did for other commodities over the years.”
He urged Nigerians to support both the NNPC refineries and the new private sector players, promoting healthy competition and progress for Nigeria.
In his words: “The resurrection of the Port Harcourt refinery is one of the most encouraging things that has happened in the petroleum sector for many years and the credit for this must go to the President and the Group Managing Director of the NNPC Ltd.
“It is a pity that some elements in the private sector, who are new in the field, are doing all they can to undermine and understate this great victory for Nigeria.
“The oil business is not the same as selling sugar, spaghetti, cement, or rice.
“NNPC will go from strength to strength, and once its other refineries are working as well, Nigerians will have cause to smile again. Let the new kid on the block flourish, but let the NNPC refineries flourish, too. That should be our goal and not a squalid attempt to discredit NNPC and its leadership.
“Every optimistic and true lover of Nigeria’s progress and President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda must be proud of the GMD Mele Kyari. His tenacity, bravery, ingenuity, and forthrightness have been rewarded with this great feat. Surely, this is hope renewed for Nigerians.”
Full statement by FFK on X
The resurrection of the PH refinery is one of the most encouraging things that has happened in the petroleum sector for many years and the credit for this must go to the the President and the GMD of NNPC.
It is a pity that some elements in the private sector who are new in the field are doing all they can to undermine and understate this great victory for Nigeria. The oil business is not the same as selling sugar, spaghetti, cement or rice and no matter how hard you try you cannot muscle your way and create a monopoly on the sale of refined products as you did for other commodities over the years.
NNPC will go from strength to strength and once its other refineries are working as well Nigerians will have cause to smile again. Let the new kid on the block flourish but let the NNPC refineries flourish too. That should be our goal and not a squalid attempt to discredit NNPC and its leadership. Every optimistic and true lover of Nigeria’s progress and President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda must be proud of the GMD Mele Kyari. His tenacity, bravery, ingenuity and forthrightness has been rewarded with this great feat. Surely this is hope renewed for Nigerians.
(FFK)
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