Former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and erstwhile envoy to the Republic of Benin, Lt. General TY Buratai (Rtd) has advised Aliko Dangote and the management of the Dangote Refinery against ‘succumbing to the petroleum marketers’ blackmail’, saying the new refinery cannot operate outside the global oil system because it refines locally and gets its crude in Naira, which is not a reason to sell it cheaper.
“Government must subsidise because it is making a profit. However, the question of subsidy is very sensitive now. But when subsidy is reintroduced, it should be only for locally refined products. At the same time, our borders must be closed for all smugglers, especially in petroleum products,” Buratai argued.
“Our borders are porous, and high-level smuggling is witnessed in every sphere. Dangote must find markets elsewhere to be able to maintain its operations. It is good news that Ghana and other African countries are approaching Dangote to buy his products.
“If Dangote refinery sells its product cheaper, be rest assured the products will be massively smuggled. The petroleum marketers are not sincere. They want cheap Dangote products to be able to smuggle them outside our shores. In this case, both Nigerians and Dangote will be the losers.
“Unless all our borders are properly manned and all the smuggling routes are blocked, then the government subsidy will work for our benefits. Dangote should not succumb to the marketers’ blackmail.”
The row between Dangote Refinery and petroleum marketers took a new dimension following the comment by the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote that petroleum marketers are yet to start buying petroleum products directly from his refinery.
Dangote refinery has disclosed the price of its petrol, revealing that it sells petrol at N960 per litre for ships and maintains a price of N990 per litre for trucks.
