Economy: Dangote deserves all accolades for building world-class Petroleum Refinery, says Akpabio

*Senate President Godswill Akpabio, during a recent working visit to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, in Lagos, affirms ‘Dangote has done it. It is highly commendable,’ noting even ordinary Nigerian Vice-President’s residence took 14 years to complete

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The leadership of the Nigerian Senate, in the National Assembly (NASS), Abuja, FCT, has described the 650,000bpd Dangote Petroleum Refinery as the “9th Wonder of the world”.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who stated this during a recent working visit to the facility, in Lagos, however, lampooned those who were previously skeptical of the completion of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, describing them as dream killers.

Akpabio, who led the leadership of the 10th Senate on a tour of the Refinery in Lagos said detractors of the refinery had all been silenced and that, indeed, previous governments have been put to shame with the completion of the project.

He assured that the National Assembly would support Dangote Group to protect the project.

According to him, the petroleum refinery is a project that Nigeria and indeed, Africa should take the ownership and must be protected jealously.

Commending Alhaji Aliko Dangote for completing the construction of the largest single train refinery in the world in a record time, the Senate President said Dangote deserved all the accolades for this feat.

The Senate President noted that ordinary residence of Nigeria’s Vice-President could not be completed until after 14 years.

“They told us in Abuja that Dangote Refinery is farce, but we have come here and see for ourselves that the refinery is alive and running. Dangote has put to shame a lot of people. “They are wondering how it will be possible for a single individual to accomplish what a whole nation could not accomplish; what 240 million people could not maintain; what a continent could not do and then one person will build 650,000bpd project,” Akpabio stated.

He also explained: “They keep wondering how one person can succeed where countries have failed; where continent has failed.

“But Dangote has done it. It is highly commendable. We came to see the refinery because we in the current Senate believe in the Nigerian dream.

“We didn’t come as a doubting Thomas, but we came because we believe the project; we came to rekindle the hope of Nigerians and the Nigerian’s ‘can do’ spirit.”

Senator Akpabio stated that the whole Nigeria couldn’t make refineries to function in Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri, but that Dangote and his team have proven that it is possible to dream and achieve it in Nigeria.”

Akpabio said the shame that came with the discovery of oil in Nigeria, in 1958, has been removed by Dangote.

He equally alluded to a report that India does not have oil, but has refineries from where the country exports refined products.

The Senate President explained the inability of the West African country to refine its oil has brought untold hardship on Nigerian consumers so much so that the Belgian Government recently banned exportation of dirty and condemned fuel to the country to Nigeria just because the latter can’t refine its own products.

Describing the refinery as quite unbelievable, Senator Akpabio, who was sandwiched by other Senators comprising the Deputy Senate President, Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, and a host of others, said the Senate and the entire National Assembly would come up with a robust legislation that would protect the project and others like it.

“Mr. Dangote, I pity you a lot because even your friends will envy you simply because they will keep wondering how can you succeed when nations, and continents have failed?

“Now that we have seen for ourselves, we are here to announce our own endorsement of this major project.”

He said: “It is also shocking to see that we produce sufficient fertilisers for Nigeria and enough to be exported.

“As I said we will do our report and we will speak to Mr President to put a stop to fertiliser import to Nigeria. You will hear from us soon.”

In his remarks during the visit, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State enthused that it is a privilege that the refinery happened in “our time, our state and our country. People talk about dreams, but only few can make it happen.

“Dangote has put Lagos State and the whole of Nigeria on the world map of excellence.

Sanwo-Olu stated: “I am happy the Senate came to see for themselves.

“Dangote was not ready to rest after successfully building the largest cement factory chain in Africa, second largest sugar refinery in the world.”

The Lagos State Governor asserted: “With investment like this, I can assure you that we are on the right path to meet the projected GDP of $1trn by 2030.

“You have the key to city, I have given you long time ago and I am happy you are using it very well.”

Also speaking, Alhaji Dangote explained that the “visit could not have come at a more auspicious time than now just as the organisation is in the process of bringing the various units of this complex integrated refining processes on stream, an eagerly awaited move.”

The Africa’s richest man said that the Dangote Refinery “produces a wide range of high-quality petroleum products, including premium motor spirit (petrol), diesel, kerosene, and jet fuel, all meeting the highest international standards (Euro V Grade).

“The Refinery apart from adding value to our crude oil, will yield 900,000 KTPA of Polypropylene and 36,000 KTPA of Sulphur and carbon black as by products.”

He stated: “The Refinery will help boost Nigeria’s economic growth, with the creation of thousands of direct and indirect jobs. “During the construction stage, it supported over 150,000 jobs, made up of mostly Nigerians.

“These Nigerians in the process acquired various skills that are still useful in other construction projects.”

The President/Chief Executive of Dangote Group disclosed “the capacity of the refinery is enough to satisfy domestic demands for refined products.

“The Refinery will export about 50 percent of its production thereby generating foreign exchange for the country.  “It will lead to growth in adjacent sectors such as logistics, shipping, engineering, and servicing.”

He also said: “The Refinery has the requisite capacity to provide energy security both by providing a ready home for our crude and in ensuring steady availability of petroleum products for all.

“Nigerians will also get to partake in the financial returns once we list the Refinery on the NGX.

“We are thus making an important contribution to this administration’s plan to grow our GDP to $1 trillion.”

Dangote stated: “Our Group is at the vanguard of job creation and employment generation in Nigeria.

“We are the biggest employer of labour after the Federal Government. Dangote Cement sustains about 70,000 (Seventy thousand) direct and indirect jobs across Africa, while the Refinery, Petroleum Chemical Complex and Fertiliser will be able to create over 150,000 (One hundred and fifty thousand) direct and indirect jobs.”

He asserted: “We have remained one of the biggest contributors to government coffers as our three subsidiaries, Dangote Cement, Dangote Sugar Refinery and NASCON Allied Industries paid a total of N788.98 billion as tax and N276 billion in VAT in three years.

“We envision in Nigeria the equivalent of Jamnagar in India where crude oil refining is the backbone of specialised industrial zones, transportation networks, and ancillary industries, contributing to the overall industrialisation of the region.”

He stated: “Or Saudi Arabia’s Jubail Industrial City, which is also undergirded by large-scale petrochemical complexes.

“The Legislature has a great role to play in this. Globally, the Legislature plays a great role in protecting and supporting domestic industry.

“I am sure that the members of the 10th National Assembly are more than equal to the task.”

The Dangote Group Chief said: “Supporting the Refinery secures the benefits. It will ensure energy security.

“As co-creators of value, we appreciate and acknowledge your consistent efforts in ensuring the enactment of vital laws promoting a conducive business environment in the nation.”

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