Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, disclosed over the weekend that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has consistently received repeat orders from all customers since it began production.
The refinery has exported its products to different European countries, Singapore, and offshore Lome.
During a tour of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals and the Dangote Fertiliser Limited complex by House of Representatives members, Dangote expressed confusion over why the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), which is supposed to protect local industries, was criticizing the refinery and spreading false information in the media to justify the continued importation of dirty fuel into the country.
He stated: “I encourage you to establish a committee to collect samples from filling stations and compare them with our samples, as many of the test certificates being shown around are fake.
“Where are the laboratories that conducted these tests? By doing this, you can reveal the truth to Nigerians, which they deserve to know. It is very unfortunate that a regulator, which is supposed to protect the industry, is instead undermining it.”
We didn’t know you were going to ask us to stop by the road and take samples from other filling stations. I didn’t understand your intentions until we arrived and you requested a test.
“It’s great that your members personally collected our samples, and I’m sure you were surprised by the results. The results clearly show that we produce the best diesel in Nigeria.”
We produce the highest quality diesel in Nigeria. It’s disheartening that the regulator is undermining the market instead of protecting it. We welcome the regulator to test our products anytime, as transparency is crucial to us.”
“It would be beneficial for the regulator to demonstrate its laboratory to the world, allowing Nigerians to make comparisons. Our priority is Nigeria first, because if Nigeria doesn’t grow, our capacity for growth is limited.”
“Speaker and esteemed members, you have seen the results of the credibility test. I appreciate your wise advice in obtaining samples from filling stations alongside our refinery’s product.
“Our diesel has a sulphur content of 87.6 ppm, roughly 88, while others exceed 1,800 ppm. Although the NMDPRA allows local refiners to produce diesel with up to 650 ppm sulphur content until January 2025, as approved by ECOWAS, ours is significantly lower.”
Dangote publicly challenged the NMDPRA to evaluate and compare the quality of refined products from his refinery with imported ones, emphasizing the need for an unbiased assessment to benefit Nigerians.
He asserted that their diesel is the highest quality in Nigeria and expressed disappointment that the regulator seems to be undermining the market instead of protecting it. He invited the regulator to test their products at any time, stressing their commitment to transparency.
It would be advantageous for the regulator to present its laboratory to the global audience, allowing Nigerians to make comparisons. Our priority is Nigeria’s growth, as our potential for development is limited if Nigeria does not progress.
