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Our fuel the best in the world – Dangote *Says, fuel queue gone forever
“Our lab is not number two, it is the number one in the world and I beat my chest and tell you that,” were the words with which Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, used in emphasising the quality of the facilities in the Dangote Refineries, from where would flow the first set of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol for the first time in Nigeria in more than two decades.
The three refineries – Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna – have all gone kaput for the better part of the last 28 years since the return of the country to civil rule due to massive corruption in their operations, that has left importation of the commodities as the only option, which has led to a drain in the foreign exchange ecosystem and concomitant debilitating impact on the economy.
Dangote, at the facility in Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State, on Tuesday, where he unveiled plans to commence distribution of PMS in the next 48 hours, apart from boasting of producing the best quality product in the world, was emphatic that his operations would wipe away the tears from the eyes of Nigerians and end their nightmare over scarcity of products.
Incidentally, the richest man in Africa, spoke on a day the country was still witnessing long queues at petrol stations, a development which had resurfaced some weeks back, as a result of the inability of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), to get products from their suppliers.
Surprising, the company, the company, the sole importer of PMS in Nigeria, which had last Sunday admitted that it was owing its suppliers, a development it confirmed was responsible for the fuel scarcity situation, was displaying a new price of more than N800 at its filling stations across the country, on the same day of the Dangote debut, meaning it has also raised their own prices.
It is not known yet how much the new local products would be sold in the market, as Dangote, was silent on that aspect, which is a major concern to Nigerians, even though he was loud on other aspects of the development, concerning the stability of supply, quality of the product and its positive impact on the economy.
Arguing that had been battling with fuel queues for as far back as 1974, he said of the current development: “This will eliminate all fuel queues in Nigeria. This will improve the health of everybody. It will also make sure that there is consistent supply in the market. It will also bring out the demand of fuel. No paper transaction. It will end the distortion of the naira, bring stability to the naira, bring growth, development and prosperity.
“As soon as we finalise with NNPC, our products will start to go into the market. As I said, we’ll help to restore industries and manufacturing. We’ll begin to real import substitution, which is what we have – saving our country foreign exchange and also earning foreign exchange, which will stabilise the naira. It will also bring down inflation and cost of living.”
Hours after Mohammed Hayatu-Deen did, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, on Tuesday, also flatly rejected the outcome of the presidential primaries, of the African Democratic Congress, alleging widespread voter disenfranchisement and electoral malpractice.
Amaechi former Minister of Transportation and former Governor of Rivers State, described the announced results as “concocted,” insisting that the process failed to meet the standards of transparency and fairness earlier promised by the party.
He said in a statement: “I unequivocally reject the concocted results being announced,” Amaechi stated.
He said he had previously maintained that he would only accept the outcome of the primaries if the process was free, fair and transparent, stressing that the exercise did not reflect the democratic values the ADC claimed to represent.
“I will not accept results from a process that does not reflect the values that the ADC had pledged to uphold, to rescue Nigerians from the impunity and gross mismanagement that our country is currently facing in the hands of the ruling party,” he said.
Amaechi alleged that a significant number of party members were denied the opportunity to vote during the exercise.
“There’s no way that about eighty percent of members of the party were not allowed to vote, and you expect me to accept such results,” he stated.
The former Rivers State governor questioned the moral basis of the ADC criticising the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over alleged electoral malpractice while allegedly engaging in similar conduct internally.
“A party that criticizes the ruling APC and INEC for vote buying, rigging and writing of results, cannot be engaged in vote buying, writing of results, and other electoral malpractices that leads to the disenfranchisement of voters who are party members. This is not acceptable!” he declared.
Amaechi said the ADC was envisioned as a platform to amplify the voices of ordinary Nigerians and provide credible political alternatives irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social background.
His rejection of the outcome is expected to deepen tensions within the opposition party following the conclusion of its presidential primary election.
“These timeless virtues of devotion, selflessness, and submission to divine will are values our nation desperately needs today,” were the exact words with which Godswill Akpabio, attempted to rouse Nigerians to the ethos of unquestionable faith and service to the country.
Akpabio, Chairman of the National Assembly, who drew example from Prophet Ibrahim, admonished Nigerians to emulate his unwavering faith, obedience, and willingness to sacrifice for the sake of Almighty Allah.
The Senate President, who conveyed his sentiments via a statement by Eseme Eyiboh, also used the specifically hail President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his vice, Kashim Shettima and Muslim faithful in Nigeria and around the world as they celebrate Eid El Kabir.
Stressing that the occasion called for prayer and sober reflection on the theme of sacrifice, he added: “This sacred occasion reminds us of Prophet Ibrahim’s unwavering faith, obedience, and willingness to sacrifice for the sake of Almighty Allah.
“To our dear President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his vice, Senator Kashim Shettima and Muslim brothers and sisters, I felicitate with them on behalf of my family, constituents and the Senate on this blessed Eid. May the lessons of sacrifice, compassion, and generosity that define this season strengthen your faith and bring peace to your homes.
“As you share with the less privileged and extend love to neighbours of all faiths, you embody the true spirit of Nigeria. To all Nigerians, I urge us to use this solemn period to pray fervently for peace, security, and prosperity in our land. Let us pray for our troops in the frontlines, for farmers to return safely to their fields, and for unity to prevail over division in our Nation.
“Eid El Kabir also calls us to deep reflection on the future of our country. Just as Prophet Ibrahim was tested, Nigeria is in a season of testing. The sacrifices we make today in patience, in tolerance and in choosing hope over despair will determine the Nigeria our children inherit.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda of this administration, supported by the National Assembly, is anchored on that same principle: that meaningful progress often requires collective sacrifice.
“May Almighty Allah accept your prayers and sacrifices. May He heal our land, guide our leaders, and bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Barka da Sallah. Eid Mubarak.”
“I will not be attending the announcement of the ADC Presidential Election Results today. I am concerned by reports from across the country of widespread vote rigging, some of which I myself observed, and will therefore be taking advice on my next steps.”
These were the exact words of Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, one of the presidential aspirants of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with which he cast a slur on the ongoing presidential primaries of the party, hinging his position on reports of fraud trailing the exercise.
Hayatu-Deen, a second timer in the search for the nation’s number one job, ran against Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s former Vice President and Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation.
In a statement on his assessment of the exercise which began on Monday, the renowned economist Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), used his X platform to convey his dissatisfaction with the process.
The ADC which said the collation for the exercise would take place in Abuja had urged aspirants, party leaders, delegates, and members to conduct themselves peacefully and uphold party unity.
Bolaji Abdullahi, its spokesman, who described the exercise as a defining moment for both the ADC and Nigerians seeking a credible political alternative, maintained that it remained committed to internal democracy and a transparent leadership selection process.
“The ADC remains proud to stand today as the only truly democratic party in Nigeria because it is the only political party whose choice of presidential candidate is determined through open primaries,” he said adding that the conduct of aspirants and party members during the exercise would reflect the leadership culture the ADC seeks to promote.
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