Olowu of Kuta in Osun State, Oba Adekunle Oyelude, on Monday, urged the Federal Government to find an amicable resolution to the disagreement with the management of Dangote Refinery to avoid sending wrong signals to prospective investors.
Oba Oyelude, in a statement obtained in Osogbo, Osun State, also called on the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, to be open to further dialogue with the government through the Nigerian Mainstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to iron out areas of differences.
The royal father, who said he read a report alleging that the head of the Nigerian Mainstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, complained about the quality of products from the Dangote Refinery, said the parties should have a dialogue more to protect Dangote’s investment and Nigerian consumers.
“Nigeria, our great nation, emerging as the highest private petroleum exporter in Africa, it is not a status and prestige we should throw out of the window. I, therefore, crave the understanding of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on this, for the feat will certainly add to the profile of his administration as that through which Nigeria attained that enviable height among the comity of nations.
“This administration cannot afford to be seen as putting before prospective investors unfriendly policies to discourage them from looking at the direction of the country for enterprises that could create jobs for the youths.
“The President and Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, on his part, should be more open to further dialogue with the government through the NMDPRA in order to save his dream project from this seemingly impasse,” Olowu said.
The monarch said Nigerians had built hope around the Dangote Refinery, adding that it required the needed support from the government.
“To my understanding of elementary finance, it makes no economic sense for an investor of that magnitude to be operating below his investment capacity level as the refinery is, unfortunately, experiencing the disappointment and indeed pains of those of us who had seen a bigger picture of the project that, we had hoped and still are of the belief, would end the perennial fuel crisis the nation has endured for about 50 years,” the monarch added.(Punch)
