The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed the fear that the recently unveiled Dangote Petrol Refinery may not fully meet the needs of Nigerians or lower the cost of petroleum products in the country.
The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the Dangote Refinery is admirable but it might not be the solution to the problems facing the petroleum industry.
Ajaero spoke on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, amid the uproar surrounding the plan to terminate the subsidy on fuel.
Ajaero said, “First, I commend Dangote Refinery but the provision of having dictatorship of the market especially in the private sector is dangerous. Now that is what we are experiencing in the area of cement production. What is Dangote Refinery going to produce? Will it be enough?
“He has done enough to build a refinery. If three or four companies like that are refining then you are talking of competition.
“So, I think while we commend Dangote as a good Nigerian, we are talking about competition, we are talking of deregulation. So Dangote has done well, but can Dangote take care of 30% of the needs of Nigerians?”
The NLC had earlier kicked against President Bola Tinubu’s announcement of subsidy removal.
Tinubu had during his inauguration said subsidy on petrol is “gone”, a move that has triggered fuel queues across cities in the nation.
While reacting to the announcement, Ajaero described the development as not well planned, saying Nigerians feel betrayed by the move.
“By his insensitive decision, President Tinubu on his inauguration day brought tears and sorrow to millions of Nigerians instead of hope. He equally devalued the quality of their lives by over 300 per cent and counting,” he said through a statement issued on Tuesday.
Aliko Dangote, during the commissioning of the refinery, revealed that the first product of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals “will be in the market before the end of July, beginning of August this year”.
“Beyond today’s ceremony, our first goal is to ramp up production of the various products to ensure that within this year, we’re able to fully satisfy our nation’s demand for higher quality products,” he said.