President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has said he is ready to sell his 650,000 barrel-per-day oil refinery to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
The offer comes amid a dispute between the refinery and Nigeria’s regulatory authorities.
In an interview with Premium Times on Sunday, Dangote said: “Let them (NNPCL) buy me out and run the refinery the best way they can. They have labelled me a monopolist.”
Continuing, Dangote who is Africa’s richest person, said: “That’s an incorrect and unfair allegation, but it’s okay. If they buy me out, at least, their so-called monopolist would be out of the way.
“We have been facing fuel crisis since the 70s. This refinery can help in resolving the problem but it does appear some people are uncomfortable that I am in the picture.
“As you probably know, I am 67 years old, in less than three years, I will be 70. I need very little to live the rest of my life.
“I can’t take the refinery or any other property or asset to my grave. Everything I do is in the interest of my country.
“So, I am ready to let go, let the NNPC buy me out, run the refinery. At least the country will have high-quality products and create jobs.”
According to the Premium Times report, Dangote also said the obstacles his refinery is facing seem to have vindicated friends and associates who advised him to tread with caution as he pumped billions of dollars into the Nigerian economy.
“Four years ago, one of my very wealthy friends began to invest his money abroad,” Dangote added.
“I disagreed with him and urged him to rethink his action in the interest of his country.
“He blamed his action on policy inconsistencies and shenanigans of interest groups.
“That friend has been taunting me in the past few days, saying he warned me and that he has been proven right.”
