Anti Dangote comments: the intrigue, conspiracy and the burden of proof

Ilenre Irele
Nothing in recent times has united Nigerians together as the emerging discourse on Dangote Refinery fuelled by the comments of Faruk Ahmed, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority to the effect that the refined fuel from the Dangote Refinery is dirty and of lower standards.
Watching Adewale Adeoye on the popular TVC Journalists Hangout gives an insight into the mood and feelings of many Nigerians on the allegations. Adeoye said what is at play is an international conspiracy involving subversive key actors in the oil industry who do not want Nigeria to come out of the woods and who only benefit the more from the status quo of continued importation. He noted that the same cabals are responsible for inability of the four refineries to function in spite of billions sunk into their repairs. This view was also shared by Babajide Kolade- Otitoju who raised fundamental questions that challenged the integrity of the agency headed by Faruk Ahmed. Otitoju said was Dangote responsible for the inability of government refineries not to work? He also stated that was Dangote Refinery not tested by government agency before it started refining!? He was of the view that certain vested interest in NNPCL and the various regulatory agencies in oil and gas are out to tarnish the reputation of Dangote, demarket it in order to continue with corruption inherent in importation of fuel and its refining overseas.
Other Nigerians have expressed opinions that reflect the views of Otitoju and Adeoye. They have called out the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority, Farouk Ahmed, for saying the diesel from the $20bn Dangote refinery is inferior to the ones imported into the country.
Recall that Ahmed had earlier informed the Dangote refinery that the Federal Government would not not cease the importation of petroleum products, adding that Nigeria cannot depend on one refinery to feed the nation.
The agency also said the diesel from the Dangote refinery contains a high sulphur content of about 1,000 parts per million.
On the contentious allegations that the NMDPRA was handing out licences to some traders to import dirty fuel into Nigeria, Ahmed argued that it was the Dangote fuel that had the larger content of sulphur.
He revealed that the refinery, which has been selling diesel and aviation fuel in Nigeria for months, has not been licensed, stating that it is still at the pre-commissioning stage.
“The claim by some media houses that there were steps to scuttle the Dangote refinery is not so. The Dangote refinery is still in the pre-commissioning stage. It has not been licensed yet; we haven’t licensed them yet. They are still in the pre-commissioning. I think they have about 45 per cent completion,” he declared.
The NMDPRA boss warned that Nigeria cannot rely heavily on the Dangote refinery for its fuel supply.
According to him, the refinery had requested the regulator to stop giving import licences to other marketers so as to be the only fuel supplier in Nigeria.
“We cannot rely heavily on one refinery to feed the nation, because Dangote is requesting that we should suspend or stop importation of all petroleum products, especially AGO and direct all marketers to the refinery, that is not good for the nation in terms of energy security. And that is not good for the market, because of monopoly,” he stressed.
On the quality of the refined fuel, he said, “So, in terms of quality, currently the AGO quality in terms of sulphur is the lowest as far as the West African requirement of 50 ppm is concerned.
“Dangote refinery and some modular refineries, like Waltersmith refinery and Aradel refinery, are producing between 650 to 1,200ppm. So, in terms of quality, their product is much more inferior to the imported quality,” he alleged.
Angered by these Ahmed outbursts which many believe has ulterior motive, Nigerians have called for his sack.
An X user, Ohiozoje Augustine, stated that , “He should be immediately relieved of his duties to prevent the damaging impression that his actions were endorsed by those at the top.”
@realist_waley opined: “It’s a very deliberate reckless talk that should warrant a query from the government. This is an obvious economic sabotage and that guy needs to be suspended.”
@Talk2me001, replied the NMDPRA boss: “This is your own selfish agenda. Why do we need to import when we already have Dangote producing legally? Truly, Dangote is right then, that the oil cabals are more dangerous than drug cabals.”
@Dankatsina50 said: “This is a strategy to frustrate Dangote refinery. This has been the game of the oil cabals that has made a whole country not have a single functioning refinery for years. They should allow him to be selling the inferior one to us like that, we will buy it.”
@Gviev commented, “I hope the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor and Minister of Finance are listening to this man. We are talking about promoting local production and exports to reduce demand for foreign exchange and strengthen the naira. He and the oil marketers are rather focused on their selfish interest to keep importing and depressing the naira.
“You should be talking about competition for local producers instead of trying to manipulate Nigerians to focus on your propaganda that Dangote wants a monopoly. Well, it’s Nigeria that will suffer it because Dangote Refinery will just focus on exports.”
Johnson Ayodeji asked, “Oga, is it Dangote that made the government-owned refineries moribund for decades? or has Dangote stopped any other person from building a refinery? We know the enemies of our country.”
Sola Solarin claimed, “This statement is self-indicting. If Dangote has not been licensed, why is he being allowed to sell diesel? If Dangote can meet our local needs, why do we need to import? We can restrict import without compromising energy security.”
@Woye stated: “The interview granted by Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of the NMDPRA was a reckless statement. The refinery is in the stages of completion and commissioning. They are producing AGO and it is normal for their sulphur level to be high for now.
“That their products are inferior is an unfortunate statement that indicates that he has a personal grudge against Aliko Dangote. I do hope that the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri will issue him a query.
“Don’t introduce politics of refinery and IOCS into this laudable project of Dangote.”
Olatunji Olalekan maintained: “Honestly, Ahmed’s statement was completely sabotage to the whole investment on Dangote refinery and Foreign Direct Investment. He should be queried and investigation should commence immediately to get to the root cause of his statement in order to prevent future occurrence.”
Sammy said: “Farouk should be shown the way out ASAP.”
@olusegunIfade also said: “Farouk Ahmed’s statement that Dangote refinery product is inferior compared to imported ones and shouldn’t be relied on is clearly a sabotage! He must be part of the cabal in the oil industry working to see the end of Dangote refinery. He should be sacked! #SackFaroukNow.”
Dr. Abdullahi Mohammed: “Farouk Ahmed is the face of the cabal’s frustrating and sabotaging campaign against local refining of our crude oil. In China and other developed countries, Farouk has no reason to remain in that office as CEO. This same reason is why all the refineries in Nigeria can’t work.”
What riled many is the fact that Government-owned refineries have been moribund for years as efforts to bring them to life are yet to yield positive results, even though the repairs on them were supposed to have been completed many months ago. There was a claim of technical completion of repairs but many Nigerians are not convinced.
Over the years, Nigeria has been importing refined petroleum products. This, Dangote vowed to stop when he began the production of PMS.
Dangote Refinery has reacted to Ahmed’s claims. Dangote Group averred that the IOC was deliberately sabotaging its efforts by refusing to sell crude to the refinery while the NMDPRA kept granting licences for the importation of “dirty fuel into Nigeria.” it also alleged that Ahmed’s statement was not true, and was an attempt to sabotage it.
The President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, on Saturday said products refined at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals, the world’s largest single train refinery, are of superior quality compared to imported equivalents and meet international standards.
A statement by the Dangote Group on Sunday said the billionaire businessman made the remark after the leadership of the House of Representatives insisted on testing other diesel products, alongside Dangote’s diesel at the refinery’s state-of-the-art laboratory.
The statement further reads, “During a tour of both Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Dangote Fertiliser Limited complex by members of the House of Representatives, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas and other members who observed the testing of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) from two petrol stations alongside Dangote Petroleum Refinery, praised the company for its significant investments and contributions to Nigeria’s development.
The diesel samples were procured from two well-known filling stations near Eleko junction along the Lekki Epe Expressway, by the visiting lawmakers.
“The Chairman of the House Committee on Downstream, Ikenga Ugochinyere, and Chairman of the House Committee on Midstream, Okojie Odianosen, oversaw the collection of samples from the Mild Hydro Cracking (MHC) unit of Dangote refinery for testing of all the samples.
Dangote Refinery
“Lab tests revealed that Dangote’s diesel had a sulphur content of 87.6 ppm (parts per million), whereas the other two samples showed sulphur levels exceeding 1800 ppm and 2000 ppm respectively.
“Dangote emphasised that these findings debunked claims made by Farouk Ahmed, CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority, who recently asserted that imported diesel surpasses domestically refined products. Ahmed had alleged that Dangote refinery and other modular refineries like Waltersmith and Aradel produced diesel with sulphur content ranging from 650 to 1200 ppm—a statement criticised by many Nigerians as a tactic to favour imported products over local ones.
“Dangote openly challenged the regulator to compare the quality of refined products from his refinery with those imported, advocating for an impartial assessment to determine what best serves the interests of Nigerians.
“We produce the best diesel in Nigeria. It’s disheartening that instead of safeguarding the market, the regulator is undermining it. Our doors are open for the regulator to conduct tests on our products anytime; transparency is paramount to us. It would be beneficial for the regulator to showcase its laboratory to the world so Nigerians can compare. Our interest is Nigeria first because if Nigeria doesn’t grow, we have limited capacity for growth.
“Right Honourable Speaker and esteemed members, you’ve witnessed the results of the credibility test. I appreciate your wise counsel in procuring samples from the filling stations alongside our refinery’s product. Ours shows a sulphur content of 87.6 ppm, approximately 88, whereas the others exceeded 1,800 ppm. Although the NMDPRA permits local refiners to produce diesel with sulphur content up to 650 ppm until January 2025, as approved by ECOWAS, ours is significantly lower. Next week, we aim to achieve 10 ppm, aligning with the Euro V standard. Imported diesel is capped at 50 ppm, but as you’ve seen, those from the stations, imported by major marketers, fall well outside this standard.”
“Dangote pointed out that high-sulphur content diesel regularly imported into the country often comes with dubious certifications. He emphasised that the most effective method to verify the quality is to purchase the product directly from filling stations and conduct credibility tests. According to him, this issue has resulted in both health risks and financial losses for Nigerians.
“Dubious certifications often accompany the importation of high-sulphur diesel into Nigeria, causing both health risks and financial losses for Nigerians,” Mr Dangote said. “The best method to verify this is to purchase the product directly from filling stations where end-users obtain it. I believe Farouk Ahmed speaks without sufficient knowledge of our refinery. We have successfully exported diesel and jet fuel to Europe and Asia without any complaints; in fact, we have received repeated orders, indicating satisfaction with our products.”
Supporting Dangote’s assertion, VP of Gas and Oil at Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, highlighted recent actions by European countries like Belgium and the Netherlands. “These countries have expressed concerns about the carcinogenic effects of high-sulphur diesel being dumped into the Nigerian market, prompting them to impose bans on such fuel exports to West Africa.”
Mr Edwin informed the federal lawmakers that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is designed to process a wide range of crudes including various African and Middle Eastern crudes, as well as US Light Tight Oil, conforms to Euro V specifications.
In addition, he said, it is designed to comply with US EPA, European emission norms, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) emission/effluent norms, and African Refiners and Distribution Association (ARDA) standards.
Noting that products from the $20 billion facility are of high quality and meet international standards, Edwin said it has the capacity to meet 100% of Nigeria’s demand for petrol, diesel, kerosene, and aviation Jet, with surpluses available for export.
The Group’s VP, Olakunle Alake, expressed disappointment over accusations of monopoly against the Dangote Group. He stressed that there are multiple players in the industry, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which operates four refineries
Expressing concern over the controversy surrounding the quality of imported refined products into Nigeria, Speaker Abass stated that the Green Chamber would establish a committee to investigate the matter thoroughly. He emphasised that sampled products from various sources would undergo testing as part of this initiative.
The Speaker also expressed admiration for the infrastructure at the Dangote Oil Refinery, describing it as a significant asset in Nigeria’s quest for self-sufficiency in petroleum products. He noted that the refinery has positioned itself as a pivotal player, especially at a time when global concerns over energy security and sustainability are paramount.
“Today’s visit to the magnificent facilities of Dangote Industries Oil Refinery section has been nothing short of enlightening. It has afforded us a rare opportunity to witness first-hand the monumental strides that your organisation has made in transforming the landscape of petroleum production in Nigeria. The sheer scale and sophistication of this facility are awe-inspiring; it stands as a beacon of hope for our country as we navigate through the turbulent waters of energy supply challenges,” he said.
Commending the state-of-the-art technology implemented at the petroleum refinery, Mr Abbas praised it as revolutionary and a shining example of engineering and innovation excellence.
“Each corner of this facility resonates with the echoes of hard work, dedication, and an unyielding pursuit of quality. It is evident that every drop produced here carries not just oil but also the hopes and dreams of millions who yearn for a brighter future. We are deeply impressed by what we have seen during this visit which confirms the rating of this industry as the single largest oil refinery in Africa. This remarkable achievement does not merely reflect corporate success; it symbolises national pride, a tribute to what can be accompanied when visionary leadership meets relentless determination,” he said.
