Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has reacted to the ongoing controversy surrounding the Dangote Refinery and fuel importation, urging petroleum marketers to focus on investment rather than accusations.
Olayinka made the remarks amid growing tension in Nigeria’s downstream oil sector following sharp petrol price cuts by the Dangote Refinery and the resignation of top petroleum regulators. The crisis has exposed deep divisions between local refiners and fuel importers over the future of petrol supply in the country.
In a post shared on Facebook, Olayinka dismissed claims that Dangote was attempting to create a monopoly in the fuel market. He argued that marketers who are opposed to Dangote’s push to reduce petrol importation should consider building their own refining capacity instead of relying solely on imported products.
“Marketers want to keep importing petrol. Dangote wants importation to stop,” Olayinka wrote. “Instead of accusing Dangote of wanting to create a monopoly, why can’t they also join hands to build one refinery to compete with Dangote?”
His comments come at a time when fuel marketers have expressed fears that Dangote’s aggressive pricing strategy could force many businesses out of the market. Some operators have described the price reductions as unsustainable, warning that the situation could lead to widespread losses across the downstream sector.
The controversy intensified following the resignation of the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and his counterpart at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, developments widely linked to the dispute between the Dangote Group and petroleum regulators over licensing, pricing and oversight. View, More,
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