From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
A Northern group, Arewa Think Tank (ATTK), has said that those who do not want the owner of Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote, to succeed were behind the fire incident that gutted part of the refinery in Lagos on Wednesday.
The group, which described such persons as enemies of Nigeria, added that they were also out to frustrate President Bola Tinubu’s government from succeeding in making socioeconomic life better for the citizenry.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Chief Convener of Arewa Think Tank, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, said, “Enemies of Nigeria are at work, those who don’t want Dangote and Tinubu to succeed. Nigeria and Nigerians will eventually triumph.
“The fire is happening a few days after the owner of the refinery, Aliko Dangote, explained how International Oil Companies (IOCs) are trying to frustrate him.
“We want to urge Aliko Dangote not to be disturbed because the journey to success is full of challenges, and it is our belief that despite the fire gutting part of the refinery, it will bounce back to function soon.
“Saboteurs and enemies of progress will definitely be put to shame because that section of the refinery is still under construction, aiming at easing the problem of the fuel crisis in the country.
“It is unfortunate that some dubious persons wanted to destroy the refinery, which is the world’s largest single-train refinery owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, who has been contributing to the economic development of our dear country, Nigeria.
“We are, however, happy that the fire, which occurred at its effluent treatment plant, was swiftly contained, and there was no recorded injury or bodily harm to any staff on duty.
“Nigerians should be grateful as a people that Aliko Dangote decided to create employment by citing the refinery in the country instead of taking it to neighbouring countries to the detriment of our own country.
“So we should be grateful to him for being patriotic by citing the refinery in Lagos, which is situated on a 6,180-acre (2,500-hectare) site at the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lekki, Lagos State. It is supplied with crude oil by the largest sub-sea pipeline infrastructure in the world (1,100 km long). When fully operational, it will provide 135,000 permanent jobs in the region.
“We still remember that sometime in April this year, President Bola Tinubu commended Dangote Refinery for reducing the price of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also known as diesel, when Dangote announced a reduction in the price of diesel from ₦1,200 to ₦1,000 per litre.
“It is our belief that the significant reduction in the price of diesel is expected to positively affect all spheres of the economy and ultimately reduce the high inflation rate in the country.
“President Tinubu also acknowledged the importance of the federal government’s 20 per cent stake in Dangote Refinery and why such partnerships between public and private entities are essential to advancing the overall well-being of the country. So for us at Arewa Think Tank, it is a big act of sabotage for unscrupulous elements to set the refinery ablaze at a time when President Tinubu is determined to take Nigeria to the next level of socioeconomic advancement,” the statement said.
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