Ima Niboro, former spokesperson to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has called on Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, to prioritize kindness to Nigerians over profit in his refinery venture.
Speaking in an interview with TheCable, Niboro urged Dangote to consider the broader implications of his business decisions, especially given the kindness Nigeria has shown him.
Niboro stated, “I also urge our big brother, Dangote, that at this point, it’s a business, but let him not prioritize profit too much. Nigeria has been very kind to him.”
He suggested that a willingness to make some sacrifices could ultimately benefit both Dangote and the Nigerian people, as the refinery is poised to produce over 5,000 products, including diesel and petrochemicals.
He referenced Dangote’s recent Bloomberg interview, in which the billionaire remarked on the price of petrol in Nigeria being cheaper than in Saudi Arabia.
“Nigerians have always felt that this is the thing that we have now. It’s like having vegetables cultivated in your backyard; you won’t pay the same amount of money for it as those that don’t have it,” Niboro explained.
Niboro emphasized the importance of Dangote approaching the petrol issue with a mindset of shared benefits, suggesting that doing so could cement his legacy positively among Nigerians.
“His name will be etched in gold, and he won’t even be the poorer for it,” he added.
Additionally, Niboro commended the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Ltd. for its handling of the petrol supply in the country, particularly under the current management.
He noted that since its transformation into a company, the NNPC has been run professionally and has taken on significant financial burdens to ensure energy security for Nigeria.
Niboro highlighted that the NNPC has absorbed over N600 per litre in costs for over a year, playing a critical role as the “energy supplier of last resort.”
He pointed out the challenges faced by the NNPC and stressed the importance of recognizing its efforts amidst difficulties in the oil and gas sector.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has announced that it will begin crude oil sales to the Dangote Refinery and other local refineries starting on October 1, 2024.
This was disclosed by Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, during a meeting with the Implementation Committee in Abuja recently.
The announcement marks a major step forward in the government’s strategy to transition to naira payments for crude oil transactions within the country.
