Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, says entrenched oil interests are still fighting to derail his $20bn refinery project. Despite the resistance, he insists he will prevail.
Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, says the battle to secure the future of his $20bn oil refinery is still ongoing, but he remains confident of ultimate victory.
“We’re fighting, and the fight is not yet finished. But I have been fighting all my life, and I am ready and 100 per cent sure I will win at the end of the day,” Dangote said Friday at an investor forum in Lagos, according to Semafor.
He alleged that powerful groups benefiting from Nigeria’s former petrol subsidy regime are working to sabotage the 650,000-barrels-per-day refinery, located in Lekki, Lagos.
“Those groups have funded resistance to the Bola Tinubu government’s removal of petrol subsidies and are opposed to the refinery operating easily in the country,” he added.
Dangote previously accused international oil companies of denying the refinery access to crude despite domestic supply mandates, and criticized regulators for licensing imports of substandard fuel.
“In a system where, for 35 years, people are used to counting good money… you don’t expect them to pray for you. Of course, you expect them to fight back,” he said.
Despite setbacks, Dangote remains committed to reaching full operational capacity, vowing not to yield to entrenched interests.